Have you ever tried creating a short play from start to finish — complete with actors, costumes, props
Director of Theater Mark Mannette launched the first-ever Newman 24-Hour Theater Project in 2011. This year’s event will kickoff at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25.
Here’s how it works: Participants are divvied up into groups and each team is given a writer, director
After teams are picked, the groups meet and begin practicing as early as 8 p.m. Friday. They then have exactly 24 hours to write the scripts, direct and be prepared to act out their plays from memory at 8 p.m. the next day.
“I generally coordinate the event and function as an artistic director,” Mannette said. “I determine the show order, set schedules for the rehearsals and help with script suggestions or tricky props. But I have also been a writer, a director and an actor multiple times.”
What sets Newman’s program apart, Mannette said, is that the event is open for anyone to try. Newman students, faculty, staff, alumni, members of the Wichita community and area high school students are all welcome and encouraged to participate.
“It’s a lot of fun because it’s also challenging,” Mannette said. “When you realize you can tackle a challenge like this and succeed – it is invigorating.”
Senior art major Xime Namé had always wanted to participate in an acting activity, so she made the decision to try out for the 24-Hour Theater Project her freshman year.
“It was a new challenge for me since I had never acted in English before,” Namé said. “It was a chance to get out of my comfort zone, which I don’t regret. I’ll admit I did struggle a little bit with English being my second language and memorizing all my lines in just 24 hours, but in the end, it turned out well.
“The 24-Hour Theater Project gave me the opportunity to explore a different scenario from what I’m used to,” she added. “I’m happy I got to act again and meet new people, too.”
Sophomore theater major Rooslana Rusk was still in high school when she decided to try out for the 24-Hour Theater Project for the first time. She heard about the event while attending a Sloppy Joe Improv show the night before and signed up last-minute, she said.
“It was kind of intimidating as a junior in high school but ultimately very rewarding,” Rusk said. “I’ve done it every year since and don’t plan on changing now.”
Newman alumna Chelsea Smet wrote three of her 10-minute plays, which were regional finalists at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, during the 24-Hour Theater Project.
“Chelsea also started a 24-Hour Theater Project at MidAmerica Nazarene University this semester because of her positive experience with Newman’s project,”
The 24-Hour Theater Project can provide an exciting element of entertainment even as an audience member, said senior international studies major Linnea Ristow.
“It was really neat to see the creativity on display at the 24-Hour Theater Project,” she said. “Each group had a unique interpretation of how to use the elements they were given, and I loved being able to watch people who were passionate and having fun with what they were doing — even though they likely got little to no sleep to pull everything off.”
The acting teams will perform their pieces for the public at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26. General admission is $3, and all proceeds go toward the Newman Theater Club.
For a behind-the-scenes video at what the 24 Theater Project is all about, click here.
To sign up or for more information, please contact Director of Theater Mark Mannette by email at [email protected] or by phone at (316) 942-4291, ext. 2486.
