“The Boys Next Door” follows the story of five men living in a group home, each living their life with a mental illness. The show was not just a one-act play, adapted from the 1985 film, but it was also the last one-act play Lincoln Southwest produced in 2005. 

Even though Southwest no longer produces one-acts, first year director Mr. Austyn McKee, looks to share Southwest’s stage with eight other schools as a part of the Lincoln Southwest One-Act Festival. The festival will take place Nov. 18. A day pass for all audience members is $5. 

The goal of the festival is to highlight other school theater programs in Nebraska. Silverhawk Theatre looks to celebrate theater programs with smaller student bodies and budgets.

“It’s a really great opportunity for all of the schools,” senior Emma Gross said. “Schools can come from all over the state, and we get to see troupes we might not have seen before.”

The festival is equally important for Lincoln Southwest, as appreciation for all levels of theater is just as relevant as the eight schools competing for first place. 

“The festival gives smaller schools a chance to show what they can do,” junior Katie Timmer, theater historian, said. “The festival brings all of the schools together. For Southwest, we don’t do one-acts, so we can witness and appreciate these other forms of theater.”

Below are the participating schools and their performance times.

Malcolm High School: 8:30 a.m.

Standing Bear High School: 9:30 a.m.

Conestoga High School: 10:30 a.m.

Lyons-Decatur Northeast High School: 11:30 a.m.

(Lunch Break)

Waverly High School: 1:00 p.m.

Johnson-Brock Public School: 2:00 p.m.

High Plains Community Schools: 3:00 p.m.

Louisville High School: 4:00 p.m.