LIHUE — Directing one high school play is a challenge in itself.
But directing seven different plays? It’s a challenge that Dennis McGraw, director of Kauai’s Performing Arts Center, is up for.
“This year, for the high school, we’re doing nine, 10-minute plays,” McGraw said. “Two of them are written by students. The plays are very subject mattered: some are comedies, some are social situations.”
One of McGraw’s former students, Gabrielle Davidson, is directing the other two plays.
“The Non-Loser’s Club,” “The Arrangement,” “Eating in the Dark,” “A Quiet Place,” “New Year’s Resolution,” “Lights Out,” “The K Family,” “Sunday’s Sundries,” and “No Entry” are the nine plays that will be put on stage this weekend.
The first play is scheduled at 7 p.m. Thursday and will also be at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and one show 2 p.m. Sunday at Kauai High School in Room R3.
“They’re all going to be done by the same cast of students, some of which are going to be in three or four different plays each night,” McGraw said.
Nialani Green, a junior from Kapaa High School, wrote a play for one of the shows. It’s called ‘The K Family,” and it’s basically a parody on the Kardashians, Green said. It’s about a single mom, Kristina, who’s supposed to be Kris (Jenner) and she’s trying to make a reality show with her family.
“Even if you don’t like the Kardashians, everyone knows them,” Green said.
Writing a script was a learning experience for Green, who is playing a character in the play, Kristina, but is also helping off stage to ensure everything stays within the script.
“It was hard at first, but I used a lot of different things that they used in the reality show — like the same topics but just made a spin-off on it,” Green said.
Admission is $10 at the door.
