Missouri Western State University will present a production of six one-act plays and five short films beginning Thursday.

Missouri Western Associate Professor of Theatre Tee Quillin said “Short and Sweet” is a series of plays about 10 minutes long and short films around five minutes long.

“So you’ll have a little short play and in between each of the plays we’re going to show student directed, student written films. Actually films that they have produced this semester in the Cinema Directing class,” Quillin said. “This is new for us. It’s something that we’re trying, mostly just trying to give more students more opportunities to direct.”

Kara McGhee is a student director who is directing one of the plays in the series.

“I’m directing Clara and the Gambler which is the very first thing to open the show. I chose the play just because I thought it was a really cute, fun play. It seems like it’s set in a small town, which I’m from a small town so I can relate a little bit,” McGhee said. “Clara has just gotten married and this gambler shows up and has won a gamble with her so-called husband, which we find out it was not her husband, and comes to take her away. It’s got some serious moments, it’s got some comedy, so it’s a little mix of everything.”

“Short and Sweet” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday in the Kemper Recital Hall inside Spratt Hall.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for Missouri Western faculty and staff, free for Missouri Western students with ID and $6 for all other students. To purchase tickets in advance, go to mwsutix.com or call (816) 271-4452.  Tickets may also be purchased at the door.