Please Allow Me To Introduce Myself...

This is a long post. But it's definitely worth the read.

The 24 Hour Theatre Project has come and gone. In its place, I have a program, a poster, a script, and an amazing experience to remember for the rest of my life.

When I walked into the T101 Theatre (Virginia Tech)at 7:00 yesterday morning (April 2nd), I was nervous about what my script would be, anxious about my actors memorizing lines, and worried that I wasn't up to the task of directing this show.

1st win of the day - John Kayrouz had written me a script that was pure gold. The play was entitled "Devil's Audition." This play literally had EVERYTHING - Shakespeare, Marlowe, liquor, anger, sex, conceit, deceit, and massive amounts of honey. Thank you, John Kayrouz.

My actors showed up at 730 - we went to our first rehearsal space (of many - there was a rotation schedule) and immediately started doing read-thrus and putting it on its feet. The roles were written perfectly for my actors - Jonny Walker for his "lady's man" mentality, Cyrus for his showmanship, and Carter for his previously unknown ability to be intimidating, yet strangely amiable.

2nd win of the day - My actors were good at their craft.

We broke for lunch, and my actors went off with each other to Souvlaki's - a little restaurant across the street, where I encountered them ten minutes later running lines and having fun. What a team.

We came back after lunch, and hopped right into solidifying blocking - I had my first near-heart attack of the night... I realized we had less than 7 hours left and we weren't off book yet. The blocking was down. The next few hours focused on lines.

About mid-way through line work, late afternoon/early evening, we had to run Tech. I had a simple cue list - but my set was the most intricate part. I had used nearly all the stock elements we had to create the Lobby/Bar of the Gate Royale Hotel (the setting) and the run crew did not like me at that point. But I fought for the set, and kept it.

3rd win of the day - easy cue-to-cue, and managing to have my set as well.

Then, dinner break. This was where my actors kept running lines. And guess what?

4th win of the day - They got them!!!!

We had a project-wide meeting at 630 - Alyssa said "House opens in 25!" and we hopped to it. I collected my actors for one last line-through, created a honey ritual (honey was intrinsic to this play - we all swallowed a spoonful of honey for luck) and then I yelled:

ACTORS! WHAT IS YOUR PROFESSION!

and the response - "HOOAH! HOOAH! HOOAH!"

Another glorious moment.

Finally, the show went up at 730. I was in the audience. The first half shows (1 - The Fairest One - a bachelor show with Paris of Troy, Hero, Athena, and Aphrodite. 2 - When the Arrow Leaves the Bow - an unsettling murder mystery. 3 - Your Play - A story about a girl and her father) were all fantastically written and directed - seemingly going off without a hitch. The bar was set very high.

After Intermission, the first show was "Friday" (yes, apparently referencing the terrible pop song of the same name by Rebecca Black), about three lesbians and their relations. Again, beautifully executed all around - and then came my show.

Devil's Audition went up. James Miller (played by Jonny Walker) began reciting Hamlet, in preparation for a film shoot. Mel, the Bartender (played by Carter Gaylord) watched him closely from the bar, interjecting at moments with insight for James. Clay Windfield (Cyrus Pynn) walked in and instantly stole the stage. Clay is the ultimate actor, an actor with a capital "A." He was in the spotlight, both offering advice to James and intimidating him in the process, while Mel looked on with contempt. The audience was in stitches.

When Cyrus left the stage, there was a monumental amount of applause. Some stood. In the middle of the show. Does that even happen!?

My show ended. Jonny and Carter wrapped it perfectly. Exactly as I wanted. The applause, once again, was overwhelming.

The final show went up (Secondhand Delivery - a play involving a salesman assassin, a corny husband, and a determined housewife). The entire show received a full standing ovation. Congratulations were had, pictures were taken, the set was struck, and suddenly, it was over as quickly as it had begun.

I went home and slept.

Thanks to all who participated in this project, especially my cast and stage manager Jackie Mullen (She was everything I needed and more) and my author, John. Thanks to Alyssa Kaye Markfort for her organizing this event, and Helen Thomas for helping her execute it.

I leave you with this: