Point Loma Playhouse is pushing the envelope with 24 Experiment, wherein 24 actors and writers and a dozen directors collaborate to produce six plays in 24 hours to be performed before a live audience.
Producer Shelley Benoit discussed the process involved for the 24 Experiment event, which will be held Friday and Saturday, April 17 and 18.
“At our kick-off meeting,”?she said, “writers are given a genre — mystery, comedy, romance, anything — and they have to come up with a script that night. Then the directors show up and start casting actors, giving them their scripts about 9 a.m. The rehearsals start for the curtain (call) at 7 p.m., just 24 hours after the kick-off.”
Benoit said the unorthodox theater exercise’s purpose is to “give local artists, whether they’re writers, directors or actors, an opportunity to come together with other people of similar interests and practice what it is they’ve learned how to do and what they want to do better.”
Despite the funky and challenging timeline involved, the Playhouse producer said 24 Experiment is “lots of fun.”
“Even though this is a 24-hour thing and really rough, with actors who may — or may not — remember their lines, we usually get full audiences,” Benoit said.
Those who’ve participated directly in the 24 Experiment say it can’t be beat.
“I find that working within the 24-hour time limit to write a play is an adventure in itself because you never know where your creative mind will take you during the night after lots of coffee, sugar and silly prompts,” said Jennifer Eve, who participated as a writer last year. “The next night, as you watch the actors read your lines, waiting for the audience to respond to your play is exhilarating, especially when they laugh when you hoped they would.”
“It’s like mad libs for adults: absolutely fun and hilarious,” said Shalinda Wilkins, a two-time participant, a writer and associate producer in 2014. “You don’t need any experience or skills to write a play — just come and play with words or characters.”
“The 24 Experiment is a paradox,” said Samantha Goldstein, who’s participated twice, once as a director and once as an actor. “You’re tired, but you’re on a nonstop adrenaline high.”
“There is something so magical about seeing a play take shape and be performed in 24 hours; it’s very inspiring,” added Goldstein, noting, “It’s also really fun working and creating with strangers who quickly become friends. I can’t wait to do it again.” Over the last three years, producer Benoit noted the “quality of the plays has improved” with 24 Experiment, pointing out those participating are now “a seasoned group of quality players who’ve improved.”
Point Loma Playhouse is a nonprofit run by an all-volunteer board. The playhouse puts on shows and workshops for actors and stand-up comedians, as well as participating in theater events around the city.
For more information about the playhouse, call (619) 225-0044 or visit www.pointlomaactors.com.