OJC Student Productions

Student Written, Directed and Produced Plays

OJC offers students interested in theater arts a unique experience: to be able to write, direct, produce and perform their own original plays!

Students at OJC have the freedom and flexibility to experiment a bit. "This sort of student responsibility, if it occurs at all, is normally not available until the senior year at a four-year school. There is something magic about having a hand in creating, directing, and producing a play from conception to production. These students are making the most of that opportunity," said Steve Simpson, Theater Director at OJC.

OJC Students Embrace Unique Performance Opportunities.
Free performances were held March 8 and March 9, 2008

Darkness

An original play by Mark Randall

Darkness, written by OJC student Mark Randall, began its journey to the stage in the fall of 2007 as an outline and a vision. After registering for an internship in play writing under the supervision of OJC Director of Theatre Steve Simpson, Randall put his creative energies to work throughout the fall semester, shepherding what had once been an idea into a chilling one-act depiction of a mother’s decline into the depths of mind and memory as she deals with the unexpected death of her daughter.

Randall has taken the process one step further this semester by directing the premier performance of his new play. Randall’s cast includes, Melissa Root, Taylor Ballard, Ashley Jo Owen, Jesse Bradford, Elizabeth Montejano, Sydney McCormack, Sophia Alvarez, Maria Armijo, John Eubank, Steven Beamen, and Jim Justice.

“There is a darkness in every mind.”

[ Back To Top ]

A Wedding Indeed

An original play by
Elizabeth Montejano & Chad Evett

A Wedding Indeed is a new play that grew out of a collaborative student effort in the spring of 2007. The Otero Players sponsored a “24-Hour Play Day” during which OJC students conceived, wrote, rehearsed, and produced three new plays in one hectic 24-hour period. Chad Evett and Elizabeth Montejano, with able assistance from Melissa Root and Ashley Jo Owen, fashioned “a comedy riddled with science fiction, romance, and zombies.”

Elizabeth Montejano directs this unusual (and hilarious) offering featuring Chad Evett, Melissa Root, Ashley Jo Owen, Jesse Bradford, Brad Schultz, and Sydney McCormack and a contingent of zombie wedding guests that wail a rendition of the “Wedding March” like you’ve never heard it before. Chad Evett is the costume designer for both plays.

[ Back To Top ]

24 Hour Plays ~ April 12th 2008!

Students involved with the 24 Hours Plays are pictured above from left to right (back) Jack Garcia, Gwynn Root, Mark Randall, (front) Eizabeth Montejano, Melissa Root, Taylor J. Ballard, & Jesse Bradford.

Otero Junior College students had an opportunity to burn some midnight oil on April 12th. They created and produced two one act plays within a 24 hour time span. Sponsored by the Otero Players and the Arts Department at OJC, the process began at 7 p.m. on Friday April 11th with curtain time set for 7 p.m. on Saturday April 12th in the Ed Stafford Theatre. The original productions were open to the public at no charge.

[ Back To Top ]