Seven diverse one-act plays, three of which are premiere productions, make up this final weekend of the Eden Prairie Players’ Collection of One Acts in its 17th year at the Riley-Jacques Barn.
The seven plays were selected over several months from 150 submissions.
Producer Elizabeth Michaelson shared the rigorous vetting process.
Some 30 volunteer readers reviewed the scripts, evaluating the 15- to 20-minute plays on the originality of treating familiar topics through a new lens, addressing life and death issues within family and society, and determining whether they could be performed on the unique Riley-Jacques stage.
Once 15 or so plays are identified, performers spend a Saturday reading them aloud to select the final grouping.
This year’s productions feature 19 actors focus on parent-child life situations (“Tiny, “Secret Notes,” “Family Justice,” and “An Awkward Conversation in the Shadow of Mount Moriah”), how strangers can bring to light secrets that can cause laughter and soothe pain (“Who Didn’t Dunnit,” and “A Benevolent Alliance of Mourners”), and inject us into the world of theater itself (“Fourth Wall” and “Shakespeare and Juliet”). The minutes go by quickly.
The final performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, and Saturday, Sept. 24, as well as 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25. Riley Jacques Barn is located at 9100 Riley Lake Road in Eden Prairie.
For more information, or to buy tickets, visit the Eden Prairie Players’ website.