No costumes or stage lights were needed to transform the Pottle Auditorium into a theatrical production last week.

The only required tools were the imaginations of several students involved in a three-night workshop for the upcoming play “Only in Louisiana,” written by James Winter, assistant professor of acting and directing.

Led by Chad Winters, an instructor of acting and directing, the students gathered each night to develop the setting, time period and characters for the original play. The ultimate goal was to have a strong final draft of the play that will be staged for Southeastern’s Fanfare in October.

“It’s been a lot of fun reading a new play and giving opinions on it, and getting it up on its feet,” said Kaci Davis, a senior liberal arts major. “It’s cool to think that we are the first to work on a play that will be staged later this year.”

The workshop process allowed the actors to read selected scenes and improvise them on stage to give Winter some insight on how he could strengthen the script.

During the improvisation, the actors were able to say lines that may have sounded better or brought out a part of the character that was not originally in the first draft.

“It is always great to hear what kind of choices real actors and designers are inspired to make when creating this piece,” said Winter. “The workshop process serves as an important bridge between the play on paper and the play as a living, breathing production.”

This is not the first summer workshop for the theater program. Last summer was spent working on the original script of “Parking Lot Babies,” which would later become an award-winning script. Both Winter and Winters have expressed interest in continuing the trend of holding workshops for new plays.

“Both Chad Winters and I are huge supporters of the development of original plays,” said Winter. “New plays keep our art form vital and fresh. I’d like us to get to a point where we are staging at least one original work each theatre season at Southeastern.”

Winters, who has had previous experience with theatre workshops at The Actors Studio, stresses the benefits that being involved in a workshop can bring to students.

“With this production, we continue our program’s mission of producing new works at Southeastern,” said Winters. “It’s a great opportunity for our students to be a part of creating a new play. Many actors break into the business by getting attached to a new work that succeeds professionally. Workshops are a lot of fun and a great way to network in the business.”

For students who were involved in strengthening the play, the workshop has been a week of playing and having a good time.

“Getting to explore a script with the writer and play with the characters is exciting and a lot of fun,” said Lee Jeansonne, a marketing senior. “We are just goofing around and laughing a lot but it is an essential part of a new play process and I’m excited to be part of it.”

Auditions for “Only in Louisiana” will be held on August 19 from 4-7 p.m. in the Vonnie Borden Theatre. Upcoming productions and audition information can be found at www.selu.edu/theatre.