Invitation and Acceptance

On Monday the 8th I came home to this unexpected message on Facebook:

Magic Valley Repertory Theatre invites you to be a part of The 24-Hour Theatre Project!

At 6:30pm on Friday, September 16, 2016, 15 local performers will assemble at the Orpheum Theatre. We would like you to be one of them!

You are being invited because you meet two qualifications. First – you have auditioned for a Magic Valley Repertory Theatre production in the past. Second – based on that audition, we think this kind of challenge is something you’d love!

Between 6:30pm and 7:00pm that night our performers will be divided into 3 teams. Each team will be given a theatrical genre, a line from one of Shakespeare's plays and one prop.

Beginning at 7:00pm Friday night, each team will have 24 hours to create a one act play and be ready to perform it on stage at the Orpheum Theatre by the time the house opens at 7:00pm on Saturday night, September 17, 2016.

Each team must write and stage their play from scratch. These are the team requirements for each play:
1. Each team member must appear on stage as a character in the play.
2. The play must be between 25 and 45 minutes long.
3. The play must include the assigned line from the Shakespeare play.
4. The play must match the assigned genre.
5. The play must use the assigned prop.

Each team will rotate between 3 sections of the Orpheum Theatre building through the 24-hour period: Stage, Rehearsal Room and Prop basement. Each team will be given equal time in each location.

The Orpheum lobby will be a neutral location at all times. Each team must be ready to perform by 7pm September 17.

Teams will have access to any existing Magic Valley Repertory Theatre props, costumes and set pieces stored at the Orpheum Theatre.

Teams will have 2 - 1 hour opportunities to work with Orpheum Theatre sound, light and backstage techs beginning at 1pm on September 17.

Each performer must provide their own "stage blacks" - i.e. black pants, shirt, shoes, socks.
Do you accept this invitation? Please reply by Wednesday, August 10 at 5pm!

My first thought was "Yes!" My second thought was I need to get this approved with my wife. My third thought was "Absolutely yes!!" Fortunately she was in the room when I received the invitation so I read it to her verbatim and we had a brief discussion. And then I accepted it.

I must confess that I did think about getting my director's permission, since this event will be the weekend before Hell Week for the Fantasticks. However, it doesn't directly interfere with rehearsals and I put that nagging thought to the side. Besides, it's the same theatre company so they already knew about my other commitment.

So what are you going to see here? Well, they were right...this is the kind of challenge that I would love. I am already obsessing about it. And that's what you are going to see here. My thoughts as the project slowly approaches. I'm also going to invite my collaborators to put their thoughts on this blog. And I am even considering live blogging (if there's time) during the project itself.

So, here we go!