Bluffton University theatre will present five short plays for their fall performance collectively titled “Alone, Together,” during three virtual viewing opportunities, Oct. 29-Nov. 1.

The plays will explore the challenges and surprises of social distancing during the pandemic with charm, humor, tenderness and loss.

The plays include “Looking Back,” “All the Cranes in the World,” and “Neither Here Nor There” by Arlene Hutton; “Rosebud” by Dan Castellaneta and Deb Lacusta; and “Pandemic Therapy” by Jami Brandli. Performed and recorded by student actors in separate locations, these plays explore our current realities of feeling along, together.

Performances will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29; 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30 and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov.1. Ticket prices are $5 plus streaming fees for general admission (single device); $15 plus streaming fees for group viewing (single device); and free for Bluffton University students, faculty and staff. Tickets are available at www.bluffton.edu/fallplay

Play descriptions, roles and participating students are as follows: 

“Looking Back” by Arlene Hutton
What if you were the very last person at Disney World before it closed due to COVID-19 – and your best friend wasn’t there to share the experience with you?
• Shannon – Abby Bush ’24, Marion
• Keith – Hunter McCafferty ’23, Bremen
• Director – Dr. Melissa Friesen,
   Mary Nord and Joseph Ignat endowed chair in theatre
• Stage manager – Payton Stephens ’23, Lebanon
• Assistant stage manager – Cierra Long ’23, Urbana

“All the Cranes in the World” by Arlene Hutton
Meredith entertains her 5-year-old niece Vivi over Zoom, as they await news about Vivi’s mom from the hospital.
• Meredith – Payton Stephens
• Director – Melissa Friesen
• Stage manager – Cierra Long
• Assistant stage manager – Taylor Waldeck ’23, Springfield

“Rosebud” by Dan Castellaneta and Deb Lacusta
A film buff’s obsession with “Citizen Kane” might just send his girlfriend over the edge – and off Zoom.
• George – AJ Kenney ’23, Marengo
• Rene – Ally Heldman ’23, Findlay
• Director – Melissa Friesen
• Stage manager – Taylor Waldeck
• Assistant stage manager – Claire Myree ’21, West Chester

“Neither Here Nor There” by Arlene Hutton
College roommates separated over Spring Break by the pandemic reconnect online and discover there’s always more to learn about one another.
• Katie – Kelly Bilen ’24, Archbold
• Alexandra – Luisa Rivera ’23, Yoro, Honduras
• Director – Adam Shanaman ’22, Bellevue
• Stage manager – Taylor Waldeck
• Assistant stage manager – AJ Kenney ’23, Marengo

“Pandemic Therapy” by Jami Brandli
Married couple Kim and Stephen are coping with lockdown in very different ways – can Stephen and their therapist Lori coax Kim out of her home office?
• Kim – Claire Myree ’21, West Chester
• Stephen – Adam Shanaman
• Lori – Nicole Centofanti ’21, Delaware
• Director – Melissa Friesen
• Stage manager – Taylor Waldeck
• Assistant stage manager – Payton Stephens ’23