SUNY Oswego senior theatre majors Michaela Buckley and Sean Ryan will perform a play they wrote, "Between Fourth and Fifth," to the KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival with performances on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 20 and 21.

"This is a huge honor for both of us, seeing as this is a show not only did we write and will be in but is going up at one of the three most attended fringe festivals in the country," Ryan said.

"Between Fourth and Fifth" will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20, and 5 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Avyarium, 274 Goodman St. North, in Rochester. Tickets are $15 at rochesterfringe.com, where more information is also available. Remaining tickets will be available at the door starting one hour before curtain. 

The duo created Good Friends Bad Company, an Oswego-based theatre company, to start conversations and spark change. Their project, “Between Fourth and Fifth,” is a play that takes a glimpse at what happens when two strangers are stuck in an elevator together, forced to settle into the uncertainty. Separated from the rest of the world completely, the two are forced to get to know not only each other, but themselves.

They said the show explores the struggles that young Americans are facing now in the ever-changing media climate and workforce, and that creating this show was an exploration of human interaction, self-image and modern connections. They hope audiences will laugh, feel and reflect on that slice of life put on the stage. 

Attending Oswego has allowed them to get involved in shows, provided creative insipiration and allowed them to pursue leadership opportunities. Buckley was elected president of the student theatre organization Blackfriars, while Ryan is president for the Oswego chapter of the National Theatre Honors Society Alpha Psi Omega. The two said they have love for theatre coursing through their veins and are ecstatic to share that with everyone.  

The college and its theatre program have provided the foundation for them to make this leap. "I think we receive a well-rounded education and are surrounded by well-rounded people who support us. Our faculty always push us to be the best we can be," Buckley said.

"We are really grateful because without Oswego, this would have never happened," Ryan said. "One of the defining things about the program is that we're pushed constantly to be more than you think you are, in a healthy way. You're not just an actor but also a director and a writer and a stagehand. I think that's pushed us to be confident enough to do something like this."

Since its debut in 2012, the KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival has become one of the most successful fringe festivals in the U.S., attracting more than 78,000 attendees in 2018. Now a 12-day event, this multi-genre arts festival boasts over 550 performances and events -- more than 150 of which are free -- in 20+ venues in downtown Rochester. The festival includes everything from theatre, music, comedy and dance, to children’s entertainment, spoken word, visual arts, film and more. Visit rochesterfringe.com for a complete schedule, tickets and more information.