The Department of Theatre began preparations for the 4th annual 24 Hour Musical. The musical will be held on Jan. 21 at 7:30 p.m. in Fulks Theatre at the Williams Performing Arts Center. There is no admission fee, but donations will be accepted and given to Living Water International.
“Last year we raised about $2,200, I believe, which was double the year before that,” said Braden Clark, junior acting major from Olathe, Kansas, and one of the 24 Hour Musical directors. “So, we’ve been growing.” This year’s goal is $2,000 after much discussion among the production crew.
This past Sunday, auditions were held in the Williams Performing Arts Center. Clark said they had about 50 auditions as well as a few video auditions.
The production crew will not announce what show will be performed until the beginning of the 24 Hour rehearsal day. “The two weeks before the show, we take off a show every other day,” said Laura Harris, senior theatre education major from Little Rock, Arkansas and one of the 24 Hour directors.
By the day of the musical, the list of shows will be narrowed down to two. Harris said they announce the musical that will be performed to the cast and then the directors will say go! “[This is the] ultimate musical theatre challenge,” said Harris.
The production crew has been working all semester laying out the 24 Hour day, down to 15 minute increments. “A lot of planning goes into the 24 Hour day,” said Harris. The production crew spends time picking the show, cutting the script, advertising the event and much more.
Clark and Harris are looking forward to this event. “It’s hilarious because you’re watching people who haven’t slept in 24 hours put on a full musical,” said Harris.
Harris mentioned enjoying this show because the audience is different than the normal Theatre Department audience – with a lot of ACU students and Abilene families.
“Theater is so fleeting. It’s a moment that happens once. And you have to cherish for that one period of time. And doing it in 24 hours is an even bigger reminder of that,” said Clark.
The 24 Hour musical will take place in January, but if you would like to support the event, contact Laura Harris at lah12a@acu.edu or Braden Clark at bbc13a@acu.edu. If you are interested in donating food for the actors and actresses for the day of rehearsal, contact Savannah Ochran at sfo13a@acu.edu.
Members of the 24 Hour Leadership Team:
Diego Gonzalez, junior musical theatre major, Director
Laura Harris, senior theatre education major, Director
Braden Clark, junior acting major, Music Director
Carl Kimbrough, sophomore musical theatre major, Music Director
Savannah Ochran, junior acting major Production Stage Manager
Ricardo Flores, speech pathology grad student, Choreographer
Jillian Jackson, sophomore acting major, Choreographer
Elliott Mitchell, junior tech/design major, Technical Director
Jordan Garcia, junior tech/design major, Costume Management
Deja Roberson, junior PR/Marketing major, PR
Ryan Derrick, sophomore acting major, PR
