Shippensburg University junior Cory Stevens will debut his one-act play “Family Dinner” on Friday, April 26 in Memorial Auditorium.

Stevens, an English major, is actively involved in theater and Act V productions at SU. This will be the first play in his college career that he wrote and directed.

Stevens said he knew he wanted to do a one-act play but had trouble settling on an idea. After deciding against his original plot, Stevens changed directions in September 2012 and started writing the rough draft for “Family Dinner.”

“The idea had been sitting around for a while. It took me about three months to write the first draft and one month for people to look over and edit it. In January I sent in the final draft and Act V approved it,” Stevens said.

The play centers on the Smith family. The daughter, Sarah, played by SU’s Ali Jones, brings her boyfriend Peter, played by Shaun Bellamy, to meet her extended family. The plot focuses on Peter’s attempts to fit in with the wacky bunch while Sarah’s parents struggle with their marriage.

Although the dramatic plot threads the play is a comedy and, according to Stevens, is filled with “a lot of adult language and sexual themes.”

Stevens has not been in the director’s chair since high school but has acted in Act V productions since coming to SU.

“Directing is definitely a lot more work,” he said.

With the help of his assistant director Michael Vendetti, stage manager Emily Maust and the 10 person cast, Stevens hopes audience members will enjoy and appreciate the play.

“We’re trying to construct a comedy that has a lot of heart,” Stevens said.

Stevens plans on focusing his energy into graduate school in the next year, but hopes to always be involved in theater.

“Family Dinner” will be shown Friday, April 26 at 8 p.m., Saturday, April 27 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 28 at 2 p.m. All showings are free to SU students, faculty and staff with their ID and $2 to the general public.

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