Short Play Fest opens this week!

Playbill cover: Albany High Short Play Fest About Social Media

The Albany High School Theater Ensemble will present three performances of the 2023 Short Play Festival on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the school's beautiful new auditorium.

The festival will feature world premieres of five original plays written by Albany High students that explore the good and bad aspects of social media. Students also will direct, act in, design sets for and manage sound and lighting in each performance. 

Please note, some of the plays contain strong language and may not be appropriate for very young audiences.

Shows are Friday, Nov. 17 and Saturday, Nov. 18 at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door and cost $15 each for general admission and $5 each for students and seniors.

The plays

"The Idol”

  • Writers: Bianca Concepcion Melendez, Nikkya Hylton, Shaquin Robinson, Desiree Watkins, Iris Whalen
  • Director: Ian Roach 

“The Music Thief”

  • Writers: Maggie Bailey, Maia Ballato, Briana Morton, Gelissa Phillips, Zoe Silvestri, Jadalynn Velazquez
  • Director: Ray Blanken
  • Assistant director: Z’Andre Wilkinson 

“Locked In”

  • Writers: Nicholas Caesar, Lucy Edvalson, Rowan Hoehn, Devin Ramos, Rey Rodriguez
  • Director: Declan Chirlin 

“Elsker & Kemi”

  • Writers: Autumn Citrine, Adeline Noble, Sienna Stewart
  • Director: Ray Blanken
  • Assistant director: Z’Andre Wilkinson 

“Duel of the Nerds”

  • Writer: Ian Roach
  • Director: Declan Chirlin

The company 

Camden Allen • Katerine Barros • Acee Boschulte • Mel’Lani Campbell • Celine Casasola • Lynelle Cooper • Ulta Diana • Alexander Fournier • Marina Generali • Lucinda Hiles • Jayden Lozada • William O’Neill • Gelissa Phillips • Christina Pringle • Zay-Quan Rivers • Reyanna Rodriguez • Anadi Sarkar • Nina Scandurra • Esperanza Soto • Alex Steuer • Shadie Walters • Iris Whalen • John Willis Jr.

The crew 

Tasmia Athoi, head costumer • Nicholas Caesar, backstage crew • J’Anni Elfridge, backstage crew • Ashanty Fernandez, backstage crew • Karly Grant, backstage crew • Naomi Koudoagbo, costumes • Adrien Myers, costumes • Julia O’Neill, set design ("The Idol") • Cole Roc, light design, board operation, costumes • Shaelynn Sobolewski, hair and makeup •Sage Volmer, set, props, backstage crew

Faculty advisers

Cheyenne Adams • Brian Avery • Rose Biggerstaff • Jahmere Holland • Amanda Weklar