Some remember their first time on stage as being paralyzed in a spotlight while playing a tree in a third grade production of "The Wizard of Oz." Some never made it to the auditions.

Tonight, a group of students will get to put whatever theatre experiences they've had behind them and take the stage at Notre Dame for the first time.

"The Freshmen Four" or "The Frosh 4," consists of four short one-act plays where all the acting, directing and technical work is done by freshmen. Sophomores Justin Williams, Meg Ryan and Cheryl Turski serve as producers and resource persons for the show. Williams and Ryan each directed a play in the show last year and Turski starred in another.

"It was one of the best experiences of my freshman year and we felt if we didn't put it up nobody would," Turski said.

Though some members of the production have had previous theatre experience, the production is a unique opportunity for first-year students who are curious about campus theatre or were unsuccessful in getting a part in other campus productions to take a little bit of the campus spotlight in a learning and supportive environment.

"I tried out for these plays because I hadn't done theatre in months and it felt really strange," freshman Shantha Ready said.

This year's plays are all comedies. "Slop Culture," which is directed by freshman Steve Hoeplinger, is a humorous commentary on the shared experience of the children of the '90s: hours upon hours of bad television. "Naomi in the Living Room," a comedy by Christopher Durang, is directed by freshman Hallie Taylor. The show is a manic evening in the life of Naomi, an insane woman whose son, John, and his new fiancée have come to visit.

"Date with a Stranger," directed by freshman Paul Sifuentes, is a candid peek into a date where a man and woman attempt to get to know each other through sexual innuendo and back-and-forth statements, counterstatements and retractions. "Time Flies," directed by freshman Molly Topper, is the life of two mayflies that only live for 14 hours.

For the most part, the rehearsal process for the shows is laid back. The casts gets very close because it is a learning experience for all of them. Hoeplinger thinks the rehearsal process has allowed him to apply and understand many of the techniques he learned in his "Acting: Process" class this semester, but he credits his cast with making the process a positive experience.

"It's been really easy because I tell my actors to do something and they usually do something better than I asked … it's been a blast and it's what I look forward to every night," Hoeplinger said.

"The Freshmen Plays" will be performed tonight in the Hesburgh Library auditorium at 7:30 p.m. General admission is $3. Tickets will only be available at the door.

Contact C. Spencer Beggs at beggs.3@nd.edu

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