You may be asking yourself, "How are these all related?"
Ladies and gentlemen, the 24-hour drama festival!
This week, I was able to participate in what was pretty much the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me: the SMC 24-hour drama festival.
The festival is exactly what it sounds like- 24 straight hours of theater. Students could sign up to write shows, direct shows, or act in shows- we were also allowed to direct and write or act and write. On Friday evening at 7:00, a bunch of SMC theater students gathered in McCarthy to audition (which, in this case, meant playing theater games for a good length of time.) It was amazing and fun, but when that was over, the real work began.
DUN DUN DUN.
After the actors left, the writers were put together in groups of about four. I had the pleasure of working with three amazing people who I got along with fantastically. I don't think I have ever been in an assigned group that had so much natural chemistry. We finished our first draft at around midnight which is, for the 24-hour festival, apparently very early. We took a break to make a mass Cumby's run with the festival directors. When we returned, it was back to work!
Our final draft was completed at around 3 in the morning. We had produced an 8-minute play that, to our sleep-deprived brains, was comedic gold. By 5, most people were either asleep or quietly watching movies. I personally slept for about an hour and a half- more than most of the others by far.
At 7 on Saturday morning, we were awoken. I had signed up to act as well as write, so I had a long day looming before me which, after the previous night, felt like a titanic challenge. We were cast at 7 and began rehearsals immediately. We had until 7 that night to learn the plays as best we could.
I was cast in a play called "Awkward Man and the Waitress of Doom." I played an Applebee's waitress/comic book nerd who narrates her life as if she were a superhero. One day, Batman and Wonder Woman walk into the restaurant to meet Iron Man, who told them to meet him there. However, they discover instead that it is a prank Iron Man played on them- instead of eating lunch with the famed Stark, they are tricked into having their lunch with Aqua Man! (Boo)
The waitress (me) tries to show them that she, too, is a superhero, but they essentially laugh at her. She then becomes a supervillain and fights Aqua Man, who loses terribly. Much of the play was spent putting down Aqua Man, who we all know is the least exciting superhero. (No offense to Aqua Man enthusiasts.)
It was a hilarious and well-composed play, and so much fun to act in! We had a blast rehearsing it, despite the exhaustion we all suffered from. I love the people involved in theater, and I am so excited to be a part of such an energetic and welcoming group. I hope everyone has a chance to be involved with the group at some point, even if it is just going to see the shows put on by the wonderful and talented SMC theater students.
The 24-hour play festival video (in which I get a standing ovation, no big deal) can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2vWnJ1-v5E&list=HL1347905957&feature=mh_lolz
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