One evening only, two shows 7 and 9pm.

Northampton’s critically acclaimed theatrical high-wire act takes the stage once again on Saturday, April 4, at the Northampton Center for the Arts.

The premise is simple, the execution anything but: Within 24 hours, five plays will be written, rehearsed, directed, produced, and staged. The grueling and adrenaline-filled process begins on Friday evening, when five playwrights meet to draw actors’ names out of a hat. Armed with their casts, the playwrights have 12 hours to create a ten-minute play. In the morning, they hand off their scripts to five directors who gather the casts and spend the next 10 hours rehearsing.

At the same time, production teams scramble to find props, scenery and costumes for each play. Dramaturges, or script doctors, roam the rehearsals, pointing out problems and helping with revisions.

By the time the lights go down for the first show at 7 p.m. on Saturday, the casts have had a technical rehearsal and a full production rehearsal. The plays have been lit, costumes and props chosen, programs made up, and the show is ready to go on.

The Project was founded in 2002 by local playwright Tanyss Rhea Martula, who will join Meryl Cohn, Cynthia Kennison, Phil O’Donoghue and Peter Shelburne to write for the Project this year. Directors Jeannine Haas, Tim Cochran, Mark Gaudet, Liz Foley and John Hadden are all 24-Hour veterans.

Some 17 actors make up the lively and diverse cast, including local radio host Bill Dwight, Judith Fine, Linda Putnam, and Court Dorsey.

Since its debut performances, the 24-Hour Theater Project has been garnering rave reviews and tickets to its shows are coveted. Plays from past productions have gone on to other venues, such as the Boston Playwright’s Festival and the Five College Word! Theatre Festival.

Two Shows: 7 & 9pm

Tickets: Tickets are $12 general admission, $10 for seniors and students.
For Reservations call NCFA at: 413.584.7327