The theater arts department will continue the annual student directed series of one-act plays after a year of discontinuity.

“I’d like [the audience] to be surprised,” said student director Isabeau Denis, 20. “[The show] has some twists and turns, but it’s fun and it’s goofy.”

The series of one-acts, eight comedies and one drama, will be performed in the Jurkowitz Theatre from March 13 through 18. Starting at 7 p.m., three plays will be featured each night Monday through Wednesday and repeat Thursday through Saturday. Ticket price is $5.

Nine students from the fundamentals of directing class and 18 students from the advanced acting class collaborate on this production for their final exam grades. Other classes in the theater arts department are also involved.

As a theater arts major, Denis has acted in 30 theater productions since age 5, including three plays at City College.

“I’m usually in the spotlight rather than behind it, making it all happen,” Denis said. “It’s a fun experience to actually bring a show to fruition behind the curtains.”

For her first solo directing project, Denis chose Daniel Maclvor’s comedy “This is a Play.” The plot is about three actors performing a play within a play. Instead of hearing the script, the audience will hear the characters’ thoughts.

Denis said the challenge for her team is costume shopping with its own budget.

Her play is the second in the series performed on Wednesday and Saturday nights.

In this series, the only original play, “Lez Be Honest,” is a work written by Richard Lonsbury, a 23-year-old theater arts major.

He wrote a comedy about a lesbian relationship and loyalty in friendship. Lonsbury conveys his thoughts on homosexuality through conversations and lies between four characters.

Lonsbury said many of his theater friends are gay. This challenged the belief taught to him by his parents and church that being gay is a sin, and inspired him to write this comedy.

Chloe Clements was the only director brave enough to take this play.

“Three weeks ago, we changed the last five pages because the ending wasn’t working,” Clements said. “It’s been a rough journey but it’s been nice. … I wanted to direct [Lonsbury’s] piece because I knew it would be a challenge.”

The playwright said he wants to see people leave the theater talking about his play.

“If you’re offended, ask yourself why,” he said. “If you find it funny, ask yourself why.”

This comedy is the third play performed on Wednesday and Saturday nights.

R. Michael Gros, co-chair of the theater arts department, said he expects to see effective communication and responsibility, rather than professionalism, from the student directors.

Ashley Lemmex, a 27-year-old student director, said she recently had an interview at University of California, San Diego for a master’s program and had a chance to compare its theater program with the one at City College.

“I was lucky to discover that I was being given the same, if not better, opportunities here at [City College],” she said. “…with all of this experience, I feel as though I am prepared entering the professional world.”