The 24-Hour Musical will take place on Sunday at 7 p.m. in Fulks Theatre, with proceeds going to Living Water International.
The 24-Hour Musical, led by students, is a show in which the cast does not know what musical to rehearse for until 24 hours prior to showtime. The audience will not know what musical is being performed until it starts.
The officers of Alpha Psi Omega, the national organization for theatre students, lead the production team.
Victoria Steffins, junior musical theatre major from West Monroe, Louisiana, and president of Alpha Psi Omega, has previously performed in two 24-hour musicals and will produce the upcoming musical while acting in an ensemble role.
“I’ve never been on the watching side of it,” Steffins said. “But I’ve heard from many people that have watched it that is is well worth your time.”
Dawne Meeks, chair of the theatre program, said ACU’s theatre department is not the first to use the concept of the 24-Hour Musical.
“It’s such a unique activity though,” Meeks said. “Our students absolutely love it.” Meeks said students use their art to give back to the community.
The tickets are free, but proceeds from donations go to a chosen cause. Steffins confirmed this year’s proceeds will go to Living Water International, an organization that brings clean well water to twenty-one countries and is based in Houston.
Meeks said students outside of the theatre department are welcome to perform in the musical.
“It’s a great way for the university community to come together,” Meeks said.
Steffins said working in the musical can be tiring. But she said there are benefits with putting in the work.
“It is rewarding just to see people of different departments and just all types of differences coming together and working on something that’s just fun overall,” Steffins said.
In recent years, the Fulks Theatre has filled enough seats to create a fire hazard concern.
Steffins said the theatre department is in the process of deciding on a larger location for next year’s 24-Hour Musical.
“We were thinking about Cullen, but that is also something that’s on reserve,” Steffins said.
Steffins said concerns about sound and set movement accompany the idea of Cullen Auditorium, and that no final decision has been made.
