Skip to main content

BSC Theatre to present plays prepared in 24 hours | Bismarck State College

to the top of the page
Home Page

BSC Theatre to present plays prepared in 24 hours

Published: Sep 05 2018
BSC Theatre to present plays prepared in 24 hours - Photo
Bismarck State College’s Sidney J. Lee Auditorium is the stage for the 3rd Annual 24-Hour Play Festival Sept. 14-15 at BSC.

“The 24-Hour Play Festival has quickly become one of our most popular, most anticipated events of the year ” says Danny Devlin, BSC assistant professor of theatre. “Each year we attract a wider and wider base of participants and audience members who want to join in on the insanity."

BSC students and alumni, as well as students from area colleges and high schools, and interested Bismarck-Mandan community members are invited to join in writing, casting, costuming, directing, rehearsing and performing 10-minute plays.
 
“We are proud to be partnered with The 24 Hours Plays, a global time-limited theatre initiative.” Devlin says. “Regional and professional theatres, community theatres, colleges — The 24 Hour Plays are produced all over the world. We’re proud to bring such a tremendous tradition to the Bismarck-Mandan area and to BSC. There really is nothing else like it."

Participants gather Friday, Sept. 14 at 7:30 p.m. and are randomly assigned into groups — miniature, 24-hour theatre companies. They are given a list of requirements and circumstances and then the teams get to work. 
 
Following the brainstorming process, the writers work through the night. By 8 a.m. the group begins rehearsals, and by 4 p.m. the technical elements are added. The curtain rises at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 15. Devlin expects four to five plays will be performed after the 24-hour prep period. The process can be followed all night and day on Facebook.

This event is sponsored by the BSC Theater department and BSC Drama Club. Admission is free.