Theatrical Madness Saturday 8PM at the Inge Theatre
Inge Center
You never know what will happen!! Dozens of community members and ICC students are joining together to create six 10-minute plays at the 9th edition of the Independence Area Community 24 Hour Plays. The performance is Sat. Feb. 2, at 8 p.m., sponsored by the William Inge Center for the Arts at Independence Community College.
The “24 Hour Plays” format allows busy community members to take part in a fully staged play within literally just the length of one entire day.
“It’s fun. It’s creative. It’s a great community-building event and the audiences love it,” said Peter Ellenstein, Inge Center Artistic Director, “Some of the most respected actors in the nation take part in the annual Broadway 24 Hour Plays, and they love it as the ultimate theatrical challenge. It is intense, but community members discover the same thing as Broadway actors: that the 24 Hour Plays unleashes a fulfilling rush of creativity and talent.”
No one person actually stays up an entire day and night (that would be crazy!). Participants meet Friday evening for a 90 minute orientation, and then go home to sleep. The six playwrights and a beleaguered producer remain awake all Friday night and into the early morning to write brand-new 10-minute plays.
The actors, directors and backstage crew return Saturday morning for a rigorous day of rehearsals to prepare for the wild public performance at 8 p.m.
The plays are appropriate for ages 13 and older. Rotten tomatoes may be purchased at the door. Caution, laughing too hard can bruise your funny bone! Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for students.
This event is presented in collaboration with the original 24-Hour Plays Company. Since it was created in 1995 by Christina Fallon, the 24-Hour Company has produced more than 300 new short plays. Each year a benefit “24 Hour Plays” on Broadway attracts the nation’s most famous actors. Audiences have enjoyed these fresh productions in cities, colleges and high schools from around the country.
The William Inge Center for the Arts is best known as sponsor of the annual William Inge Theatre Festival, which is the Official Theatre Festival of the State of Kansas. The 31st annual Inge Festival takes place April 18-21, 2012, with Honoree David Henry Hwang. Tickets go on sale March 1, 2012. Visit www.ingecenter.org for more information.
This program is presented in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency, which believes a great nation deserves great art.
Further supporters of the William Inge Center for the Arts include the William Inge Festival Foundation, Independence Chamber of Commerce, and Independence Community College, major sponsor.
Reader Comments (2)
Just last Saturday Feb 2nd 2013, I had the honor of participating once again in the (8th) Annual Community 24 Hour Plays at The William Inge Center for the Arts at ICC…and I just want to say “Thank you” to everyone evolved. There is such a thrilling feeling to work so hard with a small group of people who are about as freaked out as you are but ultimately want to same result and actually pull it off! It completely baffles me the short amount of time taken to write, prepare for and perform such amazing plays. I hope more people are able to attend and enjoy them in the future. (- Ms. Faux Jewel Ree)
You were wonderful and it was a joy to have you as part of the experience!!