October 2, 2009 - 2:38pm
A Day In the Life: Basement Arts's 24 Hour Theatre
BY DAVID RIVA
Each year, Basement Arts, one of the University’s many student-run theatre groups takes on a seemingly impossible task: create four short plays completely from scratch in 24 hours. Ordered chaos ensues held in check only by energy drinks, penis jokes and the ever-looming deadline. Bonnie Gruesen, Artistic Director of Basement Arts, outlines the day’s events.
Friday 10:00 p.m.
“Four writers are locked in the Design and Production Studio Classroom in the Walgreen Drama Center. Their mission? Write a 10-12 page play that is funny, mildly cohesive, and can be performed using about seven actors.”
Saturday 10:00 a.m.
“Four directors come in and discuss the plays with their respective creators. The directors then cast the shows from a pool of 30 actors. Often set up like an auction, good actors are a hot commodity. ‘I want Nico for the French detective!’ or ‘I think Joey should be the boy and Darren should be his dick.’ It’s 24 Hour Theatre, people, what do you expect?”
Saturday 12:00 p.m.
“The actors come in and find out where they have been cast. With four plays rehearsing all over the Walgreen Drama Center, the mood is chaotic. Props and costume people fervently search the Basement Arts props closet for fake severed limbs, Mickey Mouse hands, fedoras, grass skirts and other things of this random nature. ”
Saturday 10:00 p.m.
“The audience gets to see the behind-the-scenes video of the past 24 hours. Immediately following, the four original short plays are performed, whether the actors are ready or not. The audience is forgiving and often slightly intoxicated, so what should be an absolutely terrifying experience is actually pretty fun. Actor adrenaline is pumping strong, and everyone is excited and nervous, including the audience.”
The plays will be performed on Saturday, Oct. 3rd at 10:00pm in Studio 1 of the Walgreen Drama Center. The show is free.
