24hr Play Projects

1^st Elmwood 24hr Play Project

Have you ever known a theatre to need non-actors, never-writers and not-directors? Elmwood Community Playhouse in Nyack does.
The Elmwood 24hr Play Project is inviting applications from 40 individuals with very little or no experience in theatre to come together to write, direct and perform six original 10-minute plays. In 24hours.

IMG_8642-1
Led by professional artist David J. Glover, Elmwood Playhouse will open its doors to members of the local community, encouraging them to experiment with acting, scripting and directing for the stage in an intensive play-creation workshop from 8pm Friday April 29^th to 8pm Saturday April 30^th. IMG_8647-1

The six writers, six directors and 20 actors will come together for the first time on Friday evening. Before Midnight the theme of the event will be shared and inspirational materials (such as props, characters and situations) given out to the intrepid writers. Through a series of theatre games, improvisations and discussions, the groups generate ideas for the plays that the writers will create overnight in the Elmwood Theatre. Much coffee later, at 8am, the actors are presented with copies of the new scripts then, together with their directors, they stage the six new plays, presenting them to an audience of friends, family and the general public at 8pm on Saturday night. Throughout the event the participants will be mentored and guided with the help of experienced writers and directors from Elmwood Playhouse.

This project is made possible, in part, with funds from the Community Arts Grants program of the Arts Council of Rockland and the Decentralization Program of the New York Council on the Arts. This project is primarily an outreach project for Elmwood, and as such the objective is to attract members of the artistically underserved communities in Nyack and Rockland and to encourage participation in the arts by those who have not previously. This project is aimed specifically at individuals with little or no theatre experience.
acor_logo_lrg

Coffee, Lunch and Dinner will be provided.

Participants are encouraged to offer a $5 donation towards food and coffee.

Tickets for the performance on Saturday evening are FREE for friends and family of the participants. However, a $5 donation to Elmwood Playhouse is suggested.

PARTICIPANTS MUST REGISTER IN ADVANCE.

If you would like to be a part of this exciting new project please e-mail: david[at]davidjglover.com

HOW IT WORKS

8pm Friday 29^th April

The event starts with a “meet and greet “/ “get together” in the theatre for the 6 writers, 6 directors and 20 actors. (If numbers necessitate, a writers may direct another writer’s play or may act in a play other than their own. It is not possible to direct AND act) IMG_8657-1

8.15pm – 10.15pm

The theme of the event is discussed and inspirational materials (props, characters, situations, lines etc.) disseminated amongst the participants. Through a series of basic theatre games, improvisations and group exercises, discussions of initial ideas and inspirational material, the group help to generate the basis of the works that the writers will produce over night.

10.15pm – 11.00pm

The writers are teamed up with their director and allocated their actors.

Groups may use any remaining time to discuss the work to be written. IMG_8658-1

11.00pm – 7.00am Saturday 22^nd April

The writers write their plays overnight in Elmwood with the assistance of David Glover and other Elmwood members. The plays must be no more than 10 minutes in length (i.e. ~10 single sided pages each) and must utilize the theme, some or all of the inspirational materials and the allocated cast. Coffee is provided. Lots and lots of coffee.

7am – 9am

IMG_8662-1 The writers will come together to share their works with each other and use the remaining timing to iron out any major problems that can be addressed in the remaining time.