Eastern student one acts will hit the stage this weekend in the Movement Studio of the Doudna Fine Arts Center.

The student-directed plays showcase three students in the directing program as they direct their first productions.

The three students, Kayla Blue, Jennifer Holdefer and Aubrey Wiggs, are all theatre majors and will each present their renditions of classic plays this weekend.

Blue’s focuses on a classroom setting with a love affair between the two main actors.

“There are two students in a co-taught English education classroom, and the topic of the class is ‘Literature on Love,'” Blue said. “They go throughout the class talking about some literature such as ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ ‘Tristan and Isolde’ and we find out that the two teachers who are co-teaching the class have been having an affair.”

This one act showcases the talents of Eastern students Alexis Evans as the female teacher and Dondre Keeler as the male teacher.

“I’m really excited to showcase the performers, we have a lot of great talent in the student one acts this year,” Blue said.

Blue is looking forward to seeing the audience’s reaction to her one act.

“We have some really eccentric characters that are going to induce a lot of laughter and some riotous audience participation which should be a lot of fun so come out and see it,” Blue said.

“The Spotted Man” by Walter Wykes will be directed by Holdefer, and focuses on a man with an interesting health problem.

“It’s about a guy who comes into the doctor’s office because he’s got spots and they itch and he seems to be the only one to see these spots and it goes way downhill from there,” Holdefer said.

Holdefer talked about how her plays push the envelope.

“My plays tend to be a little offensive,” Holdefer said. “There’s like sex on stage and it’s hilarious but serious at the same time.”

The play can be interpreted in many ways but Holdefer personally looks at in the perspective of the lead character, Eugene.

“Eugene, who is played by Rob Browey, is our leading man in this and I’m taking it more from his point of view,” Holdefer said.

Three Southern women helping one another through their own trials and tribulations is the setting for Wiggs’ production of “Laundry and Bourbon” by James Mclure.

Wiggs, a senior, was drawn to the strong characters in this play when she chose it for her one act.

“It seems like a play about sitting around and talking, but actually these are people interacting and a lot of comedy, a lot of fun, a lot of good moments. Really it’s just about the characters. I chose a play that really focuses on people and their relationships,” Wiggs said.

Wiggs believes the strong characters are what makes this play and she is excited to show off her cast to an audience.

“This experience is incredibly important for me because it is an opportunity to combine all the knowledge I have accumulated over the past few years and apply it to one large project,” Wiggs said.

The student one acts are today and Saturday at 7 p.m., and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Prices for admission are $3 for students and $5 general admission.

Megan Tkacy can be reached at 581-7942 or metkacy@eiu.edu.