The 24 Hour Plays
The ultimate collaboration for theatremakers!
Everything's on the line when you write, rehearse, and perform a brand-new play in a single day! The team behind the international phenomenon returns to ITF to create a brand-new round of 24-hour plays with YOU!
Students may apply in one of four disciplines – playwrights, directors, stage managers, and actors – to audition for production teams. If selected, you'll be off and running to write, rehearse, and perform a new original work in just 24 short hours. Anything can happen!
"The equivalent of a high-wire act without a net"
The New York Post
How It Works
You are about to experience a thrilling form of theatre in which new plays are written, cast, rehearsed, and performed in only 24 hours. From high school to Broadway and West End galas, we've seen brilliant new plays created in just one day. The common elements in all of these productions were:
- A slightly maniacal producer (ITF and The 24 Hour Plays staff will take on this role!)
- A highly motivated and creative bunch of people (That's you.)
- A willingness to be flexible, and...
- One night to perform.
The First Night
The 24 Hour Plays experience begins the evening before the performance with a meet-and-greet that includes all participants. After some customary ice breaker activities to get creative juices flowing, the writers begin the creative process with an overnight writing session. By the next morning, their scripts are due (each play is roughly 10 minutes long).
The Next Day
Directors, stage managers, and actors return the next morning when the plays and casts are announced and rehearsals begin. After all-day rehearsals and short, well-planned technical rehearsals, the house opens for an exciting evening of original theatre!
These unconventional time constraints create a tremendous amount of energy. Although the actors only have one day to memorize lines, create characters, and learn their blocking, the plays are performed without scripts in hand.
Important Dates
| May 28, 2025 | Deadline for applications to be submitted to EdTA. |
| June 20, 2025 | Acceptance notifications sent. |
Want to Participate?
Each registered student may submit an application for one of the four disciplines (playwright, director, stage manager, or actor). Students must be affiliated with an active Thespian troupe, but induction into ITS is not required for participation. Applications must be submitted by May 28, 2025. No late submissions will be considered.
In addition to completing the application form, students are required to submit a theatrical resume. Those submitting to be playwrights should also upload a writing sample with their application.
Selection Process
Six production teams will be assembled by EdTA and The 24 Hour Plays staff. Each team will consist of one playwright, one director, one stage manager, and four actors. Students will be informed that they have been selected to participate in the event, but production teams will not be revealed until the process begins.
NOTE: Students from the same troupe will likely not be placed on the same team. Students should be comfortable working with new collaborators.
The 24 Hour Plays celebrates the diversity of the theatrical field and seeks to make the application process equitable for every young artist. We actively encourage artists of all races, ethnicities, creeds, classes, abilities, genders, identities, affiliations, and orientations to apply for this program. If you have any accessibility concerns regarding either the application or the program, please contact us so that we can make necessary accommodations.