George C Marshall High School
Statesmen Theatre
Watch our One-acts on YouTube!
In the Winter of 2022, Mr. DeLeo launched a longtime dream of his: an annual one-act festival of student-written, directed and produced original plays. "I was inspired by an interview by Lin-Manuel Miranda in which he spoke about the best time he had in high school, when the students took over and ran the show. I wanted our students to experience that agency, to see their own plays realized and let them also produce and direct as well (and give me a rest!)" Three years in, Statesmen Theatre has launched over a dozen new plays & playwrights! And you can watch them all on our Statesmen Theatre's YouTube Page!
Every year's slate has had a new umbrella title and all of the plays are available to view in playlists under those group titles:
- Year 1 (Winter 2022): Actin' Out
- Year 2 (Winter 2023): The Writings on the Wall
- Year 3 (Winter 2024): Write Here, Right Now!
And as the past two years' VHSL Plays were both new scripts, those are included as well. See some exciting student work, right here, right now!
2020-21 Performances
Links to all virtual performances and audio tracks below
During the pandemic year, Statesmen Theatre did not just lay down and give up. Nope, they went totally virtual with FOUR productions, 3 of which are free of copyright restrictions: (1) Called Out, 6 evenings of completely improvised online comedy; (2) Machinal, a radio play version of a classic 1920s play about a women fighting against harsh societal norms and (3) Edit Profile, a completely devised new play helmed by Olivia Tate. Watch and listen to some innovative performances from a time that did not dampen our creativity!
VHSL ONE ACTS: Edit Profile
Streaming on our YOUTUBE CHANNEL:
"Edit Profile" - Regional second place winner, explores the teenager of 2021 through the eyes of social media. Catch a glimpse into the lives of several students as they try to figure out who they are and what they mean to one another. Helping them out is a friendly AI named IRIS, a feminine voice who only wishes to see them succeed. The show is free and was filmed entirely over Zoom.
The show is completely devised--written and inspired by the cast members of the show.
Machinal
Virtual "Radio Show"
Inspired by the infamous 1927 murder trial of Ruth Snyder, Machinal is a gripping drama by American journalist and playwright Sophie Treadwell.
Called Out - ALL SHOWS AVAILABLE FOR FREE VIEWING ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL INDEFINITELY
Performed live Thursday – Sat,
Nov 5-7 and 12-14 @ 8:00 PM
Presented via YouTube - shows here STATESMEN YOUTUBE
This original online, fully improvised comedy, conceived & directed by Bernie DeLeo & Pete Bergen
