When Moffat County High School’s drama students take the stage from Nov. 13 through 15, audiences will see more than a performance — they’ll witness an exploration of what links people together through humor, love and shared humanity.

The production, titled “Connections”, features three short one-act plays that each examine human relationships from different angles. Performances will be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 13, 14 and 15, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Nov. 15 in the Moffat County High School auditorium.

Tickets are $8 and students of the Moffat County School District can attend for free with their ID.

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For director Juliann Matheson, who leads both the school’s choir and drama programs, the choice to stage three shorter plays instead of a full-length production was both educational and artistic.

“I always approach the selection of plays from the lens of education first, what do the students need to know, what skills do they need to develop, and what can they learn on a social-emotional level,” Matheson said. “I try to choose something different every year, so if a student is involved all four years, they experience a new genre of theatre each time.”

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Building character through one-act plays

The three one-acts include “The Visitors” by Del Martin, “I, Chorus” by Ian McWethy and “Our Place” by Terry Wayne Gabbard. Taken as a whole, they challenge students to develop characters quickly and convey emotional arcs in a fraction of the time of a traditional play.

“One-act plays are fantastic for helping actors develop the ability to create a full character in just a few short lines,” Matheson said. “The storytelling has to be concise, and so do our acting skills.”

Senior Ronin Miller, who performs multiple roles across the shows, said the format has pushed him to grow.

“With characterization, you’ve got to be able to switch gears between each show,” Miller said. “It’s like a progression for me, because I go from playing a 16-year-old kid to playing a middle-aged man to a 90-year-old man, so that’s interesting going through all those stages of life.”

Junior Perrin Smith added that the variety of stories keeps the cast and audiences engaged.

“The different stories and experiences you go through with each play are fun,” Smith said. “That really hooks the audience in, wondering what story will be told next.”

Exploring connection and disconnection

Each play centers on the production’s overall theme of connection by exploring how people relate to one another, drift apart and find meaning in the process.

“The plays all revolve around the ideas of what connects us as humans, as families, and what makes us unique at the same time,” Matheson said. “We live in a world that is so disconnected, with cell phones, busyness and distractions. These stories bring that into focus.”

In “The Visitors”, audiences meet KB Noonan, a young man in a coma, as visitors at his hospital bedside struggle to understand what happened and what his condition means for them and their lives. The story progresses through the perspectives of each visitor as they grapple with loss, faith and possibility.

“I, Chorus” turns toward comedy and follows a young woman who joins a group of people that speak and act entirely in unison, underscoring the risks of losing individuality in the pursuit of belonging.

The final play, “Our Place”, takes a reflective tone, as the setting near a quiet lakeside dock bears witness to five interconnected stories about family, friendship and the passage of time.

Students leading from all sides of the stage

While student actors handle multiple roles, the production also gives the backstage crew a bigger spotlight this year, as Matheson wanted to shift more responsibility to students who manage lighting, sets and costumes.

“One-act plays typically have more simple sets, so I was able to use the extra time to train our stage crew,” she said. “In recent years, we’ve relied on parent and community volunteers to build most of the sets. This time, I wanted students to learn how to use the tools in our scene shop and build like professional theatre companies do.”

Senior leadership has been a driving force throughout the process.

“This year, I feel like I’ve taken more of a leadership role,” Miller said. “There’s only a handful of seniors left. Early on, I did a lot of theater training with everyone, and I think I’ve taken on more of a mentor role in this show.”

Senior MaryAnn Booker echoed that sentiment.

“It gives us a lot of new experiences with different genres of plays, even though it’s a little difficult trying to switch up my characterizations so fast,” Booker said. “I’ve been excited for my senior year since I was a freshman, but it’s shocking that it’s actually here and not slowing down.”

Senior Taya Told said the production will be emotional for the students preparing to graduate.

“Senior year, this is our last play before the musical, and these performances are going to have a really bittersweet feeling,” she said. “Get ready for a rollercoaster. These are three different plays with different moods in each one, and even if you don’t like one, you’ll like another.”

Sophomore Elliott Fandel, part of the Greek Chorus in “I, Chorus”, said the collaborative work has brought the cast closer.

“We’ve been working on all speaking as a chorus since we could work on it,” Fandel said. “We’ve had some people drop out, which was kind of difficult to maneuver, but I think we should be able to do it all pretty well on show nights.”

A community effort

Matheson said the drama program’s success depends on the support of the entire community, including families, staff and local businesses including Walmart.

“Parents are so instrumental in all we do,” she said. “The White family has put in a lot of time to help us finish sets, the Miller family has been helping with promotion and concessions, and the Campbell family coordinated with CNCC’s nursing program to borrow equipment for ‘The Visitors’. Melissa Craig, Allie Feezel and her art students built props, and Chaos Ink is helping us with student merch.”

She also credited school staff for their collaboration, including activities office members Trey Woosley, Amber Beaver and Jessica Valencia. She also noted that the administration has been very supportive, as well.

“Our theater productions are always community sponsored,” Matheson said. “It’s truly a team effort.”

Art, accountability and the future

Producing “Connections” has not been without challenges, and Matheson noted that maintaining academic eligibility has been a lesson for some students.

“Students must be eligible to perform or help backstage, just as they would in athletics,” she said. “Several students who started the production won’t be able to perform because their grades must come first. It’s hard on the whole cast, but we’re learning to be accountable to each other.”

For Matheson and the students in the program, the production represents both a culmination and a foundation, as it’s a step toward integrating theater more deeply into the school’s curriculum and culture.

“I’d love to see the drama program at MCHS return to that connection between what students are learning in school and what we’re doing after school in the theater,” she said.

As opening night approaches, Matheson hopes “Connections” will do what its title suggests and bring people throughout Northwest Colorado together.

“These plays are well written, engaging and can appeal to everyone regardless of age,” she said. “Good storytelling reaches across generations. I hope the community comes out and supports the students.”

— Craig Press reporter Andy Bockelman contributed to this story.