Red Bull and a Prayer: Masuk's Limelight Rep Stages 24 Hour Theater

It’s not uncommon for small theater companies to have little time — and often minimal financial support — to get a production onstage. However, this weekend Masuk High School’s Limelight Repertory Company is going to purposefully put together a show in 24-hours.

Jon Garrity, a member of the Class of 2011, and veteran actor of the Monroe high school’s main stage productions, explained that the play itself will be written in this 24-hour period. All of the show’s technical aspects — costumes, lighting and sound — as well as staging and rehearsals — will also take place between the evening of Friday, April 15, and its performance on Saturday, April 16 at 7:30 p.m.

All proceeds will be given to relief funds for the earthquake in Japan.

Tickets are $5, and may be purchased on Twitter by tweeting @24hourtweets or e-mailing m24hourtheatre@aol.com.

“When the audience purchases a ticket, we’re going to give them a suggestion form,” Jon explained. “We’ll try to incorporate whatever they write on the form into the final play. For example, someone might write 'Justin Bieber playing basketball.’ We will somehow make that part of our performance.”

This genre is similar to models used by popular improvisational groups. In a handout offered to Masuk students, Limelight Rep’s organizers wrote, “This is your opportunity to let your creative genius flow, fulfill a lifelong dream, or just trip us up. Have fun, but keep in mind that offensive, inappropriate, or downright impossible suggestions will not be accepted. Keep it simple, funny, random and clean!”

Jon said the creative team would not look at the suggestions until Friday night. They are Kristen Wendt, Elissa Fredeen, Noah Kreski, Amina Ali, Jesse Schwartz and Tyler Cervini.

They expect about 40 participants to be part of the onstage and behind-the-scenes 24 Hour Theater extravaganza.

Jon and Kristen, Limelight’s president, explained that 24 Hour Theatre has been taking place at colleges and universities for awhile. After watching a few productions online, they thought it would be fun to bring this experience to Monroe. “It’s unique to this area,” said Jesse. “I don’t know anywhere else nearby where this has been done.”

The Limelight team will hold quick auditions on Friday night. “We want to know what special talents you have that we could use in the show,” Amina explained. She said one of the things she likes about Limelight Rep is that everyone gets an opportunity to shine onstage, “You can do what you do best.”

Noah agreed. He said Limelight, Masuk’s student-run theater company, was initially founded so high school actors could showcase themselves in a way they couldn’t as part of the school’s annual productions, which are sponsored by the school’s drama department. “In Limelight, we get the opportunity to act and direct and produce,” Noah said. “This is that forum to say, ‘Here is an idea. Let’s go for it.'”  

After auditions are held, the troupe will split off and work on their special part of the show. For example, the writers will craft several scenes that may or may not be strewn together by a common theme. The technical team will get to work pulling simple sets, costumes, lighting and sound elements together. Jon said the actors hope to get some sleep Friday night, because on Saturday morning, around 8 a.m., they will reconvene so they can receive finished scripts. Lines will quickly be learned and rehearsals will commence.  

“We’re going to be running on Red Bull and a prayer,” Kristen said, smiling.

Jon conceded that while it will be “total chaos,” the end result will hopefully be a performance that draws upon comical, improvisational work similar to what’s seen on television’s “Saturday Night Live” skits.

Tyler said, “It’s going to be a blast.”