Flathead High puts on experimental theater

The Flathead High School theater department will present "FXT 9: Flathead Experimental Theatre" in January.

Flathead Experimental Theatre was started nine years ago by Greg Adkins and provides an opportunity for student playwrights to see their work performed on stage at Flathead High. It is student-written, student-directed and student-performed project where new ideas can be explored onstage.

Spearheaded by the Acting 3 class, the theater department solicits student-written plays, making this a truly student-centered project.

Acting 3 adviser and director of Flathead theater Valeri McGarvey oversees the process, but all the designing, writing, acting and directing is student-produced. The technical duties are also performed by the students, including the lighting and set design and construction.

“Acting 3: Directing and Design is part of the [International Baccalaureate] theater curriculum, but is open to the general school population. This is an all-school production, so we have over 60 student directors, actors and backstage crew members drawn from the general school population participating,” McGarvey said.

This year’s collection includes 13 original plays ranging from dramas to comedies.

“We are really pleased with this year’s lineup of directors, playwrights and actors. We have more students involved than ever before, and it’s been a pleasure to watch the FXT experience grow and mature over the years,” McGarvey said. “This year we have a mix of the humorous and a few in the horror genre as well, so there’s something for everyone!”

Show times are 7 p.m. Jan. 7 and 8, and 4 p.m. Jan. 9. All performances are in the David M. Hashley Theatre in Flathead High.

Tickets are $7 for adults, and $5 for children, students and seniors. Tickets may be purchased at Flathead’s main office, The Bookshelf and Photo Video Plus.