Student-driven plays coming to LCCC stage

CHEYENNE, Wyoming – Laramie County Community College's Theatre Department is bringing an innovative showcase of student-written one-act plays to the stage, brought to life with the guidance of seasoned industry professionals. 

“One Act Wonders” features a different set of one-act performances at 7:30 p.m. on May 2, 3 and 4 in the Playhouse on LCCC’s Cheyenne campus. Tickets for each night are $10 at the door, with all proceeds benefiting the LCCC Theatre Club. 

Students in the theatre program expressed interest in bringing a collection of plays to the stage again this year that they would write and direct, showing that they are independent operators in creative expression, said LCCC Theatre instructor Jason Pasqua. 

“Over the last few years, I’ve had more and more students interested in writing, dramatic writing in particular,” Pasqua said.

To help guide the students, Matt McLachlan, a playwright, and D.J. Zayas, a producer and director, who both work in the performing arts in New York, will come to LCCC to work with students leading up to the performances.  It will be McLachlan’s third visit and Zayas’ second to LCCC. 

D.J. Zayas comes from a family of actors. His father, Tony-nominated actor David Zayas, visited LCCC to work with theatre students in 2023, and his stepmother was also an actor. Experiences with his family allowed D.J. Zayas to see some of the world’s best talent work, building a foundation for his understanding of theatre today. That is something he wants to help pass on to LCCC students. 

“I’ve been very fortunate to have those experiences and I’m excited to bring that to Wyoming,” D.J. Zayas said. 

McLachlan said it can be invaluable to theatre students to work with those in the industry. Bringing experience from a legacy arts community that’s seen what works in theatre, as well as what doesn’t work, can help guide students who are developing as artists. 

“A smart person learns from their mistakes; the other smartest person learns from the mistakes of others,” he said. “I look at artists who are up the ladder by five years, 10 years, 50 years ahead of me, and I'm like, ‘What did you do right? What did you do wrong?’ And I’m grateful to the people who were kind enough to give me that information.” 

Go to lccc.wy.edu/theatre for more information about the Theatre Program.