When you create an overnight theater festival in 24 hours, the day after the inauguration, you may end up with an 8th, special bonus, presentation. With apologies and respect to Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jonathan Groff, 24/7, last night, presented the one and only performance of TRUMPILTON!
To the cast and crew of 24/7 2017 —
Those of you who know, you know; those of you out of the know, will have to trust; those of you out of trust, will have to come to see for yourself.
The actors we have for his year are aces! (except for the jokers, and the queens, and kings, and, you know what, they’re all just cards.)
This year we are delighted to have the following actors jump into the unknown to bring you back gold.
The directors of 24/7 are often the unsung heroes — unsung, even in a musical. (that’s right, you never know what you’re gonna get in 24/7 – someone might write a musical overnight).
Directors get a random script and random cast and have to make it work. And they do. Oh to the yeah. Year after year.
24/7 is Jan 21, 2017. Nothing will be written until 24 hours before that. Then the directors read their script for the first time Saturday morning. Then the fun, action packed day begins – cast, designers, staging, timing, costumes, set, tech, all in one day.
This year we are honored to have the following great line up of 24/7 directors:
Nothing’s written in stone. Well, not anymore (I mean, at one time it was, in a literal sense.) But, what I meant was, “nothing is written in stone, yet.” No, that’s not quite it, either.
I meant, Nothing Is Written… Yet!
24/7 is Jan 21, 2017. Nothing will be written until 24 hours before that. The writing starts Friday night for our Saturday night shows. But when it is written, it will be written by this amazing line up of overnight sensations:
Twenty-Four Seven is a theatre festival created in 24 hours.
New every time, it is the cornerstone of Whole Theatre.
Here’s how we do it:
The theatrical artists’ gather on Friday evening. A theme for the next night’s show is randomly selected from all the given suggestions – it’s literally pulled form a hat. Then each of the 7 playwrights pull their cast requirements (i.e. 2 woman, 1 man) from the hat, and they pull their special inspirational word from the hat (i.e. Vancouver). The playwrights write overnight.
Early Saturday morning, the new 10 minute scripts are finished. The 7 directors each pull a script (yes, from the hat); and have a hour to confer with the playwright. All the actors arrive. Casting is done by each director blindly selecting names (you guessed it, literally, pulled from a hat). Then, rehearsals begin. And, the hat is retired.
Saturday day is a full rehearsal process with no time to second guess. There is a first read through, blocking, memorizing lines, etc. Simultaneously, lights are focused, sound is mixed, costumes are pinned together, tech, dress, let the audience in.
Saturday night we present a full show of new works – all fully performed and all freshly premiered. 7 new plays all created in the past 24 hours.
Or just come to a 24/7 and enjoy all the fun:
Photos by Kathleen:
How did a bastard orphan whore of a show,
In 24 hours become more of a show?
Well, Mark and Mark brought a new level of caring
On a VHS tape with intimacy sharing
And the Village People were old but not insane
`Cause they picked up pills with their extended grip cane
Then Gutsy Augusta with Matt as a white horse
Turned a Greek Goddess into a modern golf course
While a sterile stud shared everybody’s bed
‘Til Mad Maxine left everybody dead!
Like Olivia Newton-John, she was dead for sure
Until she came back to life for the reunion tour!
Yes, a Has Been intervention? You might well despise.
But how `bout backseat sex to the smell of french fries?
So, what do you want for breakfast? – and please do not ramble
I like Lactaid; and I like my eggs Scrambled!
Talent on stage and is just one part of two
Because we also had the most fantastic crew
The costumes, lights, and sound – the team was tops, you see,
We got to give props to all the amazing properties.
In 24 hours of artistic toe-to-toe,
7 new plays! `Cause we can’t be stopped by snow!
24 hours – you made one amazing show!
It’s 24/7! And, if you don’t know; now you know!
Photos by Kathleen (part 1 of 2): https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0ByHX5yYtIRKxZ1BlblhxUFd6YVU&usp=sharing
Photos by Kathleen (part 2 of 2): https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0ByHX5yYtIRKxZTl0SUZrb2YtU2s&usp=sharing
24/7 is a full evening in the theatre. Bang. That’s true.
And the main reason is this super crew — some brand new, some have been designing with 24/7 since the beginning. Costumes, Lights, Sound, Set, Props, Running Crew, Stage Management, and everyone is on their game that day.
The designers have about 3 hours to design 7 shows before tech rehearsals begin. Come see what these freaks of talent can do.
Crew for 24/7 2016 on April 9th at Live Arts:
I think there’s a sign outside of 24/7 this year that reads, “you must be THIS TALENTED to ride this ride.” Because — look at this list of actors — I would cast any of these over-talented clowns in anything.
And, I guess that makes sense. Here they are, throwing their hats in the ring to be cast in, well… just about anything.
And, yes, they’re all freakishly tall… I mean, talented.
Plus, are there a few surprises up our sleeves? Maybe.
January 23rd @ LIVE ARTS. Get your tickets now: HERE.