Students perform in the January 2020 Theatre Bake-Off
“Insane. Fun. Awesome.” Those words describe BJU’s Theatre Bake-Off, according to David Veatch, a theatre graduate student. Several key components make the plays of this whirlwind event possible to produce.
Writers
Bake-Off begins with the writers. Prospective playwrights attend the writers’ meeting the Wednesday before the Saturday performances to receive guidelines and tips for writing their 10-minute plays. Theatre major or not, any student on campus can submit a play for Bake-Off for a chance at his being one of four performed.
“As an undergrad student, I always loved writing plays. It was always a ton of fun to go into the meeting and not know what was coming and seeing all the creative ideas I could think of as I left the meeting,” Veatch said.
As a graduate student and veteran playwright, Veatch now advises Theatre Bake-Off writers how to write a successful play. He said, “Keep it interesting. There is no one way to a successful Bake-Off play. … I love plays that have lots of action. The more things that a playwright shows in their plays the more interesting it is to me.”
Megan King, a senior theatre major who has had two of her plays produced in Bake-Off, loves the thrill of writing Bake-Off plays. She said, “Trying to find ways to incorporate seemingly random elements in a ten-minute play is not only a great exercise for your mind’s creativity but also frankly a unique way to have lots of fun.”
She added, “It is truly incredible to see something you’ve written in such a short time be brought to life with actors, costumes, tech, and an audience.”
Actors
Once the four winning plays have been chosen, theatre graduate students cast the plays from the actor pool which is formed by students who submit a ballot to be an actor. The selected actors are notified Friday evening prior to Saturday rehearsals.
Mady Bell, a theatre graduate student, acted the past four years as an undergraduate student. “I love acting,” she said. “The challenge to learn everything in one day is a rush, and it is so much fun.”
King, who considers acting her favorite part of Bake-Off, said, “For the actor, Bake-Off is a fast-paced day that may seem overwhelming when you first hear about it having never actually done it. Memorizing a short play and learning all the blocking and what-not in only a matter of hours can seem daunting. However, I find that the nature of the day — rehearsing over and over, hanging out with amazing, fun people and learning a little about yourself as a performer — makes it much easier than it first appears.”
Another senior theatre major Mary Conn also loves acting in Bake-Off. “I’ve been involved as an actor every year and am very blessed,” she said. “I am usually typecast as either a mean, stuck up teen or a very young child, so I’m expecting one or the other.”
Crew Members
Behind the scenes, crew members bind the parts of each play together. However, just because the crew is not under the spotlight does not mean that their job is less engaging. King, who has acted in Bake-Off most semesters, said, “Last semester … I got to work the lights and tech. That was just as much fun as working on a play as an actor.”
Conn said, “The whole process is an experience of just pure fun. It’s all so amazing — costuming, makeup, acting, writing, memorizing, blocking. I love it all because that’s what theatre is all about.
Producing Theatre Bake-Off Amid Changes
Although the Theatre Bake-Off itself comes and goes quickly, preparation for the event takes longer. As the producer this year, Veatch began preparing for Bake-Off even before the semester began, but he enjoys the process. “There are lots of things to be done when planning for Bake-Off,” he said. “I love producing. It is fast paced, fun and keeps me busy. Bake-Off changes from semester to semester, and I love being able to see it all come together.”
Accommodating the event to follow physical distancing protocols was a challenge but the theatre arts department has approached the situation positively. Said Veatch: “COVID-19 has been a challenge, but creating is also a challenge. This is placing new limitations on our art, and I am excited about what we will create in this time. Right now, a lot of theatres are closed and there is no work to be done. The fact that we are getting to create theatre right now is a blessing, but also a little radical.”
“I’m excited to see the turn out,” Conn said. “I’m not sure if many will show up since we have the option of live-streaming it, but I’m not too concerned. As my director Dr. Naler said, ‘There is no theatre emergency,’ so I’m not too worried.”
Added Bell: “I think that it will be a welcomed evening of random fun.”
Bake-Off performances will be held at 7 and 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, in Stratton Hall. Tickets are $3 and should be purchased in advance through the Programs & Productions box office. Doors will open 15 minutes before the curtain rises.
Because physical distancing protocols will reduce the number of people allowed in Stratton Hall, the theatre arts department is offering a virtual performance via Facebook Live. The event will be streamed at 9 p.m., and anyone can purchase access for $2.99 on the event page. In other words, said Veatch, “no one has an excuse to not watch it.”
