The cast of “Assistance” practice during a dress rehearsal before the show opens on Wednesday, April 24. (Courtesy of Luther Frank)

The Meadows division of theatre is presenting three contemporary American plays to be performed in rotation over the next two weeks.

“Assistance” opens on Wednesday, April 24 at 8 p.m. and will be performed again on April 27 at 2 and 8 p.m., May 2 at 8 p.m. and May 5 at 2 p.m.

The play was written by Leslie Headland and directed by senior theatre student Samantha Rios.

“Assistance” is a satire about the human attraction to power and what people are willing to sacrifice in order to maintain it.

In the play, a group of young assistants experience constant humiliation from their boss.

During rare moments of peace, the assistants reflect on whether or not their terrible work life will ever lead to success.

Also premiering this week is “The Water Children” by Wendy MacLeod and directed by senior theatre student Jeffery Moffitt.

The play will open on Thursday, April 25 at 8 p.m. and will be performed again April 28 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. as well as on April 30 and May 3 at 8 p.m.

The performance centers around Meghan, an actress who loses a role to a younger woman and is then convinced by her agent to a right-to-life commercial.

Meghan then begins a romance with the organization’s director, which is later destroyed by news of an unexpected pregnancy.

The Village Voice described the play as “an articulate debate touched with passion and astringent comedy.”

The third play performed in the rotating repertory is “Shakespeare Project.”

The play will be performed on April 23 and April 26 at 8 p.m.

There will also be performances on May 1 at 8 p.m. and May 4 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

“The Shakespeare Project” was conceived and directed by SMU Theatre Artist-in-Residence Will Power.

Power is an award-winning playwright and hip-hop theater performer.

The play is performed with the rhythms of iambic pentameter with the contemporary beats of hip-hop.

The rhythm is used to explore key characters in Shakespeare’s work.

The 50-minute production includes excerpts from seven of Shakespeare’s plays, including “Hamlet,” “Romeo & Juliet” and “The Taming of the Shrew.”

Also featured is an excerpt from “Henry V” remade into a step competition as well as a hip-hop rhyme battle consisting of put-downs from different works by Shakespeare.

All three plays will be performed in the Margo Jones Theatre in the Owens Arts Center.

Tickets are $13 for adults, $10 for seniors and $7 for SMU students/faculty and staff.