to act or to be

It's autumn in a tourist town, and the local theater season is winding down. And that can mean only one thing - it's time for the local talent to run amok! It's time again for Random Acts, a local project held here in town where the local actors, writers and directors are given the challenge of creating and producing a 10 minute play in 24 hours.

Here's how it works.

Day 1. Evening. A collection of writers is divided randomly into pairs and given a line, or several, and are told how many people of what sex are in their play (two men, a man and a women, three men, etc.). They then have until midnight (or so) to write a 10 minute play based on these criteria.

Day 2. Early morning. The actors and directors gather at the theater and put their names in a hat. The plays are taken up one by one and randomly assigned a director and actors. The groups then divide up and are given their scripts and a location to rehearse. By 8pm that night, everyone is back at the theater and the plays are performed, on book, for the general public.

It is super cool.

Last year I "angeled" for the productions, meaning that if they needed anything - a prop, for example - they had my cell number and I was at their disposal to find it and bring it to them. There were three of us last year and we had a ball. But having "angeled", I now have first choice to act this year.

Act. Me. On stage. In front of, you know, people.

... eep ...

Now granted, it is on book, meaning that you have the script right in your hands the whole time you're on stage, and I have done informal readings before. I've taken a few of Marc Clopton's classes too, so I have some idea of what to do, and I am married to a director and have helped him produce plays before, so I also have a basic understanding of staging and blocking and such.

But to actually be up there, on stage, in front of strangers.

yipes.

...

I think I'm gonna do it. :-)