One-Act Play Festival Showcases Student Work
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For decades, Whitman College students have been turning original ideas into fully realized productions through the One-Act Play Festival—a student-driven tradition that puts creativity, collaboration and experimentation at center stage.
Founded in 1989 by Professor of Physics, Emeritus, Craig Gunsul, the festival began as a prize-based competition for student playwrights. Over time, it evolved into something even more expansive: a process-focused experience that funds and produces selected student-written plays. Today, the festival takes place every other year and remains a cornerstone of Whitman’s theater culture.
According to Professor of Theater Daniel Schindler, what makes the One-Act Play Festival unique is its emphasis on entirely new work.
“These are plays that have never been performed before,” Schindler says. “There’s been I don’t know how many revisions a playwright may have done before this gets to the point where it’s printed and rented out to people to do.”
Unlike a mainstage production, where scripts are fixed, the One-Act Play Festival allows plays to evolve. Student playwrights, directors, actors, designers and technicians work together from the ground up to create the performance, while faculty serve primarily as mentors rather than decision-makers.
Read more.
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One-Act Play Festival Next Week
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The 2026 One-Act Play Festival will run April 30–May 2 at 8 p.m., with matinee performances May 2–3 at 2 p.m. This year’s lineup features three original plays that stretch genres and tones, from absurdist drama to supernatural satire to dark comedy. Admission is free for Whitman College students. Reserve your tickets in advance. (Flyer attached.)
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Religion & Anthropology Professor Publishes Article
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Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Religion Daniel Schultz has published a peer reviewed article, “Black Thought Contra-Foucault? Critique, Counter-History and the Search for an Originary Cut,” in a special issue of the journal Foucault Studies. The article examines the ambivalent reception of Foucault in Black thought, while drawing attention to the fact that many of the issues that preoccupy Black critical theory, such as absent archives and the genesis of worlds predicated on exclusion, are issues that Foucault was deeply engaged with. The article puts Foucault in critical conversation with Afropessimism and a range of thinkers including, but not limited to, Saidiya Hartman, Angela Davis, Dionne Brand and M. NourbeSe Philip.
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President Bolton Holds Open Office Hours for Students Today
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President Sarah Bolton will hold open office hours today from noon–1 p.m. in Reid Campus Center. Look for signage near the fish ladder sculpture. Throughout the semester, students can drop by these sessions to share their thoughts or just to chat.
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Senior Thesis Art Exhibition Opening Tonight
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An opening reception for the “Split Ends: Senior Thesis Art Exhibition” will be held tonight from 5:30–7:30 p.m. at Sheehan Gallery. The exhibition, which celebrates the artistic accomplishments of the 2026 Studio Art majors, will be open through May 24. (Flyer attached.)
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Men’s Soccer Jamboree Tomorrow
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Whitman men’s soccer will host its annual spring jamboree on Saturday, April 25, from noon–4 p.m. Other participating colleges will include Columbia Basin College, Walla Walla Community College and Blue Mountain Community College.
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Wallapalooza Music & Art Festival Next Weekend
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The second annual Wallapalooza Music and Art Festival, organized by KWCW 90.5 FM, the Whitman Events Board, Blue Moon and quarterlife, will take place on Saturday, May 2, from 4–10:30 p.m. on Ankeny Field. This year’s event will feature music from local favorites Love Brunch, Spec o’ Dust, and Noah Pody ’27; Seattle folk-rock band Small Paul; Buenos Aires indie-rock band Pacifica; and London indie-folk artist Cornelia Murr. There will also be arts and crafts sold by local vendors, free food and mocktails, an inflatable obstacle course and jousting arena, lawn games, horses, and the newest issues of quarterlife and blue moon. (Flyer attached.)
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Stop by the lobby of Penrose Library before the end of the month to peruse book displays highlighting Arab American Heritage Month and National Poetry Month. There is also a crafting station for creating “found” and “blackout” poetry.
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Reid Campus Center, Fish Ladder Sculpture
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Sherwood Athletic Center, Room 114
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Adam Dublin Award Film: “Beautiful But Not Queer” by Jiayu Tang ’26
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Hunter Conservatory, Kimball Theatre
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Welty Health and Counseling Center, Wellnest
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V-Nord Improv: 24-Hour Show
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Hunter Conservatory, Kimball Theatre
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Hall of Music, Chism Recital Hall
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Cordiner Hall (Community Event)
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V-Nord Improv: 24-Hour Show
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Hunter Conservatory, Kimball Theatre
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V-Nord Improv: 24-Hour Show
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Whitman Men’s Soccer: Spring Jamboree
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Whitman Athletic Facilities
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V-Nord Improv: 24-Hour Show
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Tiger Canyon, West Tiger Creek Trail
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Reid Campus Center, Side Lawn
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Hall of Music, Chism Recital Hall (Community Event)
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Hall of Music, Chism Recital Hall
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Would you like to share an event with campus? Submit the information to the Events Calendar.
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Whitman Today is emailed to Whitman College staff, faculty and students each weekday during the academic year and twice a week during breaks. An archive of previous issues is available online.
All submissions are welcome! If you have accomplishments to celebrate, an event to publicize or other Whitman content to share, email whitmantoday@whitman.edu. Submissions of 125 words or less are due by noon on the business day prior to publication. Submissions may be edited and/or held for a later date according to space and editorial needs. Your submission also authorizes use on Whitman's social media unless otherwise specified.
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Find us on social media: @whitmancollege
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