Sauk Will Present 24-HOUR THEATRE PROJECT

The Sauk, Hillsdale County's community theatre, will present their first ever 24-HOUR THEATRE PROJECT June 11 and 12 with a public performance at 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 12.

The fun begins at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 11 when five directors and five playwrights gather together. They will be given a topic to inspire the creation of a new 10-minute play. At 8 p.m., an audition is held. The directors and playwrights then select the actors to inspire their new theatrical work. Once the cast is set, the writing begins. Playwrights have until 8 a.m. to write their new works. At 8 a.m., the actors gather to read the scripts for the first time. Rehearsals begin immediately after and then at 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 12, the five new plays will be presented.

"This is a project I have wanted us to do for a few years," said Sauk Executive Director Trinity Bird who is producing and coordinating the event. "It should be a fun day and night. I am really looking forward to what can be created in this short amount of time."

The directors for the evening are Tim Ambrose (Pittsford, MI), Bruce Crews (Jackson, MI), Angela Forant (Hillsdale, MI), Josh Lightner (Springport, MI) and Mari Nuñez (Hillsdale, MI). The playwrights are Sarah Gray (Jonesville, MI), Scott Mullen (Burbank, CA), Tiffany Thatcher (Homer, MI), G.M. (Bud) Thompson (Grand Rapids, MI) and Matthew Weaver (Spokane, WA). Mandee Leigh Howard is stage manager with lighting design by Lilly Macie and sound design by Geremy Burns.

"Anything can happen and it probably will," Bird added. "The public can follow the entire process including live feeds from meetings and rehearsals on The Sauk's Facebook page."

Tickets will not be sold in advance. The box office will open at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 12. This is a Pay What You (Generously) Can Fundraiser for the community theatre. Seating is limited to 90 seats. All individuals who have not been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be required to wear a mask inside the theatre at all times. The Sauk is located at 240 E. Chicago Street in Jonesville. Call 517-849-9100 or visit www.thesauk.org for more information.

Auditions will begin at 8 p.m. on Friday, June 11. Each person will have 1-2 minutes to show off what they can do (perform a monologue, tell a story, sing a song, dance, perform a special skill or a combination of these things). Anyone age 14 and up can audition. Actors cast in the project must be available from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, June 12.

"The 24-Hour Theatre Project" is sponsored by Olivia's Chop House and Saucy Dog Barbecue. Take your program to either sponsoring restaurant to receive ten percent off your meal anytime during the month of June 2021! The 2021 season is sponsored by Expressions Sports Photography. The 2021 Media Sponsor is WCSR Radio Hillsdale and The Dale 99.5.