Each year, Eastern Michigan University's theater program provides opportunities for students to direct theater productions with either Lab Bills or One Acts. The programs alternate years. The Lab Bill Series will take place during the 2026-27 school year and the One Acts will take place during the 2027-28 school year.
The Lab Bill Series is a series of student-directed plays. Students can apply to direct a show that either already exists, or a script they wrote themselves. If selected, students work in the lab theater to devise their piece. They work with student actors and designers. Lab Bills must not exceed a 60-minute run time, according to an informational packet from EMU Theatre.
Student-directed One Acts are shorter form pieces, often a student's original work, that they can apply to direct under EMU Theatre. One Act scripts are limited to a 10-25 minute run time, according to an informational packet from EMU Theatre.
Lab Bills tend to be longer plays that are already written and have been performed several times by different groups. Student-directed One Acts are often shorter, original works, both written and directed by the student, said EMU Theatre Director Meriah Sage.
Applications to direct a Lab Bill performance will remain open until directors are selected in July. There will be four student directors selected to participate in the Lab Bill Series. Applications may remain open later than the July deadline if fewer than four directors are selected. Student directors can apply using a Google form from EMU Theatre.
The Lab Bill performances will take place Sept. 27-29, 2026, Nov. 15-17, 2026, Feb. 7-9, 2027 and April 4-6, 2027.
Students who choose to direct pre-written plays will have creative freedom, within the show's copyright laws, to change things as they see fit, Sage said.
“The whole intent is that [the student directors] are to experiment and play with and explore and have their own artistic vision, and create it as they see fit, and to explore in the artistry and the art form of theater, and really take chances and experiment and try things,” Sage said.
Student directors will work with mentors throughout their time directing. Mentors will guide students during the scheduling, rehearsal and directing processes as needed. Mentors include EMU CMTA ProfessorsWallace Bridges, Jen Felts, Meriah Sage, Pam Cardell, Pirooz Ahgssa and Anita Rich, the informational packet said.
Directors will be in control of their own auditions and rehearsal schedule but are advised to work within the provided guidelines.
"It is supported by faculty and staff, but predominantly a student-run initiative. We are really excited to be able to lift up our students' leadership and our students' creativity and artistry, and give them an opportunity to really figure out who they are as artists, and really grapple with and find success in those works," Sage said. "Some of the best theater I have ever seen in my lifetime has been in student-directed pieces at universities, and so the creativity and the artwork that comes out of it really is, I believe, the future of theater."
