Loyola students in the Theatre and Dance department shined on stage in the annual New Works Fest, showcasing their talents and work three nights in a row.

A total of 10 works were performed this year, all written and directed by students, and students in the TAD department had the opportunity to act out these original works alongside their classmates.

Theatre junior Ava Buckley-Wilson  acted in “Ode to Vermin” by Hyacinth Downey, and stage managed “The NICU” by Paloma Mariategui.

“It was really amazing stage managing and working with Paloma as a director as well as seeing her piece come to life,” Buckley-Wilson said. “She and the cast worked their butts off to create a touching and engaging story!” 

For “Ode to Vermin,” she said the cast made a big difference in making the show work. 

“The people involved were truly amazing and made the process feel comfortable and easy despite the heavy themes involved in the show,” she said.

Working on both “Ode to Vermin” and “The NICU” meant that Buckley-Wilson needed to prioritize both at times, especially with the short amount of time.

“Sometimes rehearsals would be on the same days so it allowed me to test out my flexibility and adaptation skills,” said Buckley-Wilson.

Musical theatre sophomoreLaura Thompson acted in “Love and War” by Jenevieve Bolen, Aidan Caliva, and Will Irvine. 

Alongside working with other students, Thompson also explained how producers were a huge support system when it came to putting together the performances.

“There was so much fun and laughter and I met and worked with some people I had not known before,” said Thompson. 

The festival gave opportunities to students that were more focused on production rather than acting, something that is not necessarily accessible in ordinary circumstances, Thompson said.

“It is fun to see what people have been working on and what hidden gems might come out of this type of event,” she said. “It is also super fun and fascinating to cooperate with your peers in so many different ways.”