MAT hosts 24-Hour Play Festival

Montana Actors’ Theatre is set to hold this year’s 24-Hour Play Festival next week.

“We started holding this event in 2017, although we have missed a couple of seasons,” MAT Marketing Director Andi Daniel said.

“We also ask for help with technical and logistic aspects such as helping find props and costumes,” she added.

Participants sign up to be writers, directors, or actors.

“We generally choose four to six writers and directors and distribute actors evenly,” Daniel said.

On Friday, Feb. 16, at 7:30 p.m., teams will be chosen at random.

Each team also draws for a random prop that must be used in the play.

Finally, each team randomly chooses a headline that appeared that day. Each writer has to use the headline in their script.

After teams are drawn, writers have until 7 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, to write their 10-15 minute script. At 8 a.m., directors get scripts from the writers. Actors receive their scripts at 9 a.m. Directors and actors then have until 8 p.m. to rehearse their shows.

“The public is invited to join us for the team drawing at the MSU-N/MAT Theatre Friday evening for hors d’oeuvres and drinks,” Daniels said. “There is no charge to attend and our Backstage Lounge will be open for beer, wine and soda purchases.

“This is a chance to see what the teams have to work with,” Daniel added.

Shows will be presented Saturday, Feb. 17, starting at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 for general admission, $8 for students, seniors and military, and Northern students are admitted free with valid ID.