Four plays in 24 hours
For one night only, Hobnob Theatre Company in Butler will show four original plays created and produced by local talents in a variety show on Saturday, Aug. 23. For one day only — the 24 hours before the show — the writers and actors will work on those plays.
Hobnob’s 24-Hour Play Project returns, after debuting last year with four more original plays written in under a day.
Elizabeth Smith, co-founder of Hobnob, said the short creation time of these plays makes each one interesting to watch, for both the writers and the audience.
“It’s kind of like improv for writers. They can’t really spend time finessing, they just have to come up with something,” she said. “It’s just the whole concept of being a 24-hour period is unique. It’s fun to watch the creativity.”
Smith said there are four writers signed up and 15 actors. The actors are randomly assigned to a writer and they work together to bring the scripts to life.
Last year, the project resulted in four plays of varying subject matter and tone — but each writer had to implement a spatula as a prop into their story as an additional challenge. Everyone met in Hobnob’s studio on Main Street before going home to rest or to write. The next day, the writers and actors met in locations around Main Street, such as Your Parent’s Basement and Mystique Moon, to run through the scripts.
Smith said the process will be similar this year. Writers and actors will once again meet in Mystique Moon and the Shops at West Diamond to prepare. After 24 hours, everyone will meet back at the Hobnob studio to run the plays for real.
“Justin Anderson hosts the event, and it was an amazing experience for all involved last year,” Smith said. “We can't wait to see it come together this year.”
Audiences can view the products of the 24-Hour Play Project at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 23, at 134 S. Main St. in Butler.
Tickets are on sale at hobnobtheatre.ludus.com/200490266, and the price is “pay what you want.”
