Mayfly Playhouse IV
24-Hour Theater Project
in
New London CT
As part of HYGIENIC XXXIII
Feb 3/4, 2011
Very Important Notice - Please Read First: As of today (12/17/11) We have signed up all the actors, directors and playwrights needed. This could change at any time - so please consider signing up anyway even though you will be placed on the Stand-By list for now. Experience has shown that conflicts can arise causing someone to withdraw from the show, and we'll need to pull in a replacement from stand-by. So all is not lost...yet, okay? Thanks.
For interested audience members, the location
of the performance is The Crocker House Ballroom, 35 Union Street, New
London CT 06320. Plug that
into your GPS - or your GoogleQuestMapIt coordinates and head on
down. Doors open at 7:30, show is at 8:00pm, should last just about
two hours with an intermission. $X.xx
and open to the public, but
parental discretion might be advised. Free parking down the street
and around town (if you're familiar). For further questions, write
to us.
Theater types - read on.....
(And please note the unconfirmed dates of Feb 3/4, 2011)
Find us on Facebook and "friend us" to find out more about upcoming events and stuff like that. Do it now. What are you waiting for?
TIME REQUIREMENTS: The show will be on Saturday February 4, meaning all directors and actors must be available all day Saturday from 8am to 10pm. ~ ~ Playwrights need Friday night over-night off to write. ~ ~ All (yes all) must be available Friday February 3 from 8pm-9pm (approx), and Saturday February 4 from 8am to 9am. Playwrights will be expected to join cast and director for a one-time read-through Saturday morning before you can go home and rest up.
And for a few further details, please check this out.
ACTORS DISCLAIMER - PLEASE READ FIRST: We typically sign up about 25 actors, which means three playwrights would have three actors for their cast, and four playwrights would have four actors for their cast. That is a pretty good number of actors to write a short play for, BUT --- last year we did actually have a few who dropped out at the very last minute so ......... if you sign up now, you may be on the standby list. The problem with that is that we may not know if we need you until Friday at 8pm when we get this started, should someone just not make it to the first night, which means you might come down and find out we're "full", or in fact that we need you. We will make every effort to confirm with everyone involved that they will be able to make it before we get to that point, and if someone can not participate, you move up the list!!! So.... please sign up today anyway, and we will stay in touch. Thanks for your understanding.
And while you have a minute, please locate New London
Connecticut 06320 on the map, and keep in mind
you need to be here at 8pm Friday night for a short while, then back at
8am Saturday and stay until 10pm or later (especially if an actor or director).
My expected 24-hour itinerary, in a basic format:
Friday Feb 3
8:00pm
Playwrights, directors and actors meet at (location to be determined). Attendance is mandatory.
Don't be late.
Actors do not need an audition monologue.
"Assignment" of director and actors to each playwright, by
random selection - some
may have three actors, others more. You'll find out then.
Selection of a prop for each playwright
Disclosure of theme for the plays
Discussion of other subjects of interest
Brief meeting among all casts before the playwrights scoot home to put a
pot on
9:00pm
Playwrights go home and stay up all night writing
Directors and actors go out drinking and hootin' it up, then get a good night's sleep (okay,
kidding about the drinking thing)
Saturday Feb 4
7:00am
Playwrights deliver script to me via email.
Prefer
PDF format, will accept Word doc/docx/rtf
There is a good Doc->Pdf site at https://www.pdfonline.com/convert_pdf.asp.
You should try it as a test in advance if you need to
If you can possibly print enough copies for your cast and director, that
would be a help. Let me know in advance that you will do that so I don't have
to.
If you can print the scripts, you must still email me a copy anyway.
8:00am
Everyone meets at Hygienic Art Gallery, 79 Bank Street, New London
Scripts are handed out, directions to rehearsal space given
Director, cast and playwright retreat to individual
rehearsal space in Downtown area for dramaturgical read-through before
all-day rehearsals
(The purpose of this is to avoid any unnecessary
confusion and make any script changes deemed needed before the playwright
goes home)
5:00pm
All casts proceed to the performance space for a tech run-through at 5:30. During Saturday, the run
sequence of the plays will be determined. The tech run-through
will be in that order, and you won't know until then, so if you aren't there and ready
to go at 5:30, you miss your tech. :(
Directors will deliver stage and lighting designs to me upon arrival. Staging
will be of the "two chairs and a table" format.
Lighting will be of the "on or off" format. No spots,
cross-fades, gels, etc. Fading up at open or down at end is allowed. Think
Mr. Miyagi.
5:30pm-7:30pm
A tech run-through for all plays. Dinner will be served.
Custom is pizza.
7:00pm
Playwrights wake up, make their way to the performance space, find empty
pizza boxes and beer keg, express displeasure
7:30pm
House opens
Casts backstage
8:00pm - Curtain Up
Yep, the show must go on, ready or not.
10:00pm - Cast Party
To follow immediately after performance
In summary:
Playwrights have until 7:00am Saturday to write a completely new piece based
on certain given information (theme, length, cast makeup, prop and/or
dialogue possibly required).
Actors receive scripts at 8:00am, work with director to block and
rehearse, and must be off-book by 8:00pm Saturday..
Directors - well..... you have to make sense out of the all-night
ramblings of the playwright's scattered thoughts, and inspire your cast to
bring the script's truth to life and light.
Not sure which of you will have the easiest job.