“The End of the World”: Lily Jandrisevits’s Unconventional Take on the Apocalypse

Lily Jandrisevits, writer of "The End of the World.” Photo courtesy of Lily Jandrisevits '25

Sirens wail far and wide. The human race is on the brink of extinction, and two young roommates wonder what to do with their final moments on Earth. Except they don’t really have anywhere to go. They have no thoughtful last words to say or any frantic final goodbyes, they only have each other and their eccentric downstairs neighbor. What is the most memorable way to go out, and do they have enough snacks to hold them over in the meantime?

Lily Jandrisevits ‘25, an English and philosophy major, has produced a hilariously absurd take on the apocalypse for Marist Theatre’s 2025 Playwrights Festival entitled “The End of the World.” The only comedy in the lineup, the characters are more preoccupied with trivial issues while the world crumbles around them. The festival showcases five short plays written and directed by students, with one playwright earning the John P. Anderson '86 Memorial Award and a monetary prize. 

“They're not fully grasping the weight of the circumstances,” says Jandrisevits. “The message is that you can't really find a meaning.” 

Jandrisevits is fascinated by the concept of thought processes during impending catastrophe, especially the world's end, so much so that she has written about it before. Jandrisevits took a total of two days to write the fifteen-page script, this marking her first time writing for Marist Theatre.

The competition posed some unconventional challenges, but Jandrisevits’ student director, Abby Collins ‘28, feels more than ready to face them head-on. Due to its comedic nature, Jandrisevits stated that her play “might be the hardest” to execute of all of the shows at the Playwrights Festival because hers is incredibly fast-paced, and it can be even more intimidating to perform a comedy over a drama. However, neither Collins nor Jandrisevits are concerned about those challenging yet wonderful qualities.

“I think that [Jandrisevits] does a great job of portraying her sense of humor through the writing, and I think it's going to translate well to the stage,” says Collins. Even though they’re early in the rehearsal process, they both feel optimistic for the future of the play, having worked through every major roadblock that has revealed itself.

Each play is required to follow the “Rule of Five,” meaning that directors are only allowed five props, five hours of rehearsal, five lighting cues and just about five of everything. 

Even though this makes directing more difficult than a traditional play, Collins believes that she has more creative liberty directing a student play rather than an established play. Collins is determined to make it work, regardless of what issues may arise. She finds it imperative to stay true to Jandrisevits’s vision, and Jandrisevits is excited to see exactly what Collins does with her piece.

Jandrisevits is no stranger to this kind of competition. When she was in high school, she submitted a play to a festival, which was then performed and directed at Capital Repertory Theater in Albany, NY, with a professional director and adult actors. Jandrisevits plans to continue creatively writing for herself but recognizes the unique opportunity to have her play staged. 

The Playwrights Festival will take place on May 2 and 3, 2025. Although Jandrisevits would be honored to win, she is even more honored to share her work with an audience. Most of all, both Jandrisevits and Collins hope to make people laugh as a result of their collective hard work

“Ultimately, I didn’t really do it to win,” she remarks, “I just did it to see my play performed.”