Thank You, Eternity!
By Lyla Lopez
The final of the three student plays set to be featured in this year’s One Act Play Festival is entitled Thank You, Eternity! Written by student playwright Jaiden Thompson, this supernatural meta-play follows an actor, a playwright, and a ghost as they work to stop their show from becoming a soul-sucking ritual. Ahead of opening night, student director Julius Kozisek was willing to share his director’s note with Harper Joy. Enjoy this mysterious preview of this equally-mysterious play!
“In and around my personal life, this year has been a marathon of asking myself, ‘why am I doing this?’ I have spent months declaring a lack of explanation, if only to justify having no motivation. In these periods, I look to art and service to revive, but even my most consistent tools could barely get me out of bed. In the midst of this quarter-life crisis, I got a hold of the Thank You, Eternity! script—submitted for the One Act selection. At the time, I saw a story about three women, college students, confronting the abuses of power in their education and in theatre. It is only in seeing this show come to life through reads and rehearsals—with actors who are very much alive, not just those in my head—that I felt this play’s other importance. More than just a story about confronting abuses of power, or even using theatre to dispel a ghost’s purgatorial curse, it is a story of sharing: sharing your life, art, and struggle with the people in your life. For each of the wonderful—and wonderfully-written (shoutout Jaiden)—characters in this show, they come to their own peace through sharing that which is closest to each of their hearts. Without the wisdom to disagree with myself, I truly believe that this is our most essential, and human skill.
Today, I am tired, but I am motivated and deeply thankful. I’m not sure I would be without this show, so I owe so much gratitude to those that shared it with me. I would like to thank my Stage Manager, Emilia, for unbelievable work ethic and patience; Jaiden, for such a layered, collaborative script; as well as June, Helios, and Josie for bringing so much light and rigor into this production. I would also like to thank my Professor and Faculty Director, Mylan Gray, for more kindness, consistency, and wisdomly words than I can ever feel I deserve. Finally, I would like to thank my friends and family for the relentless care and support that has led me where I am today.
Truly with all that this production has brought...
‘I’m beyond thrilled to share this with you today.’ - Jessica Thorpe”
- Julius Kozisek, Student Director of Thank You, Eternity!
Intrigued? Come see the Biennial One Act Play Festival! Tickets are available here. Our students are beyond excited to share their work with yo