Festival of One Act Plays & Short Films

The One Act Plays and Film Festival began in 1987 under the direction of Richard Major, professor of theater at Milligan College. It is an opportunity for theatre students to direct and produce their own shows. Since 1987 over 150 plays have been performed, involving hundreds of students.

“The annual festival of One Act Plays was launched to ignite a spark of enthusiasm amongst students and to give them an opportunity to experience first-hand the craft of directing a project from beginning to end,” said Major.

The student directors choose a script, conduct auditions, cast , and rehearse their play or film. Each director is allowed a stage manager.  In addition to directors and stage managers, Milligan College students also serve as actors.

“One of the great by-products of the festival has been our inclusion of short films produced by Milligan communication majors,” said Major.

“The fine arts major at Milligan cultivates the development of Christian artists who strive for the highest standards of artistic excellence,” said Major. Fine arts majors can focus in art, music, photography or theatre at Milligan.

The addition of student films to the annual One Acts Festival in recent years is indicative of the college's growing communications major, particularly in the area of film studies.

“We need more Christians in the television, film and communications industries,” said Dr. Bruce Montgomery, associate professor of communications. “Our influence as Christians in those areas is essential.”