This year’s fall Short Play Fest is opening very soon and to generate excitement, we asked the theater teacher Mr. Avery a few questions about the festivals and what to expect this year.

The Short Play Fest is a festival of 5 shorts written by students, for students and this year’s theme is social media, the good, the bad, and the ugly. The plays examine all facets of social media and their effects on our lives.

This year’s plays are The Music Thief written by Maggie Bailey, Maia Ballato, Briana Morton, Gelissa Phillips, Zoe Silvestri, and Jadalynn Velazquez and directed by x.

Locked in written by Nicholas Caesar, Lucy Edvalson, Rowan Hoehn, Devin Ramos and Rey Rodriguez and directed by Declan Chirlin.

The Idol written by Biance Concepcion Melendez, Nikkya Hylton, Shaquin Robinson, Desiree Watkins, and Iris Whalen and directed by Ian Roach.

Duel of the Nerds written by Ian Roach and directed by Declan Chirlin, and Elster and Kemmy written by Autumn Citrine, Adeline Noble, and Sienna Stewart and directed by Ray Blanken.

If you want to see these plays there is a matinee for students on November 16th that you should talk to your 8th and 9th period teachers about going to and there are performances on November 17th, 18th, and 19th; tickets are $5 for students and seniors and $15 for general admission.

All of the plays are written and voted on by students and any student can submit their play, if you want info later in the year about submitting your own play you should follow @ahstheaterensemble on Instagram and check their website https://www.albanyschools.org/schools/albanyhigh/theater.

Auditions for the spring musical, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” are coming up if you would like to audition.  The show will open in March. You can also join the drama club which meets every Friday in Abrooken if you want to be involved in the theater department in other ways.

A big thank you to Mr. Avery for his time and wisdom, and be sure to check out the play festival!