24-7 Play Festival ‘25 FAQ
General
What is the 24-7 Play Festival?
The 24-7 Play festival is a celebration of the theatrical creative process. From August 15-16th, in just 24 hours, 7 new 10-minute plays will be written and performed before an audience, with artists from theaters throughout the Tucson community invited to write, direct, and act.
Where does the 24-7 take place?
The 24-7 Play Festival will take place at the Scoundrel and Scamp Theatre, at the Studio Y, and at locations across the Historic Y.
Who can participate in 24-7?
The 24-7 festival is open to all artists, but has limited slots that are available on a primarily first-come, first-serve basis with some decision-making ensuring a balanced cast. Audiences will be able to purchase tickets at scoundrelandscamp.org and tickets will go on sale in August.
What is the schedule for 24-7?
At 8pm on August 15th playwrights will report to the writing location (TBD). They will be ‘locked in until they have completed their scripts and submitted to the proctor. All scripts are due by 4am.
6am on August 16th S&S Staff review the plays and print the scripts.
7:30am Directors arrive for their orientation for the day.
8:30am Actors show up for orientation for the day. Scripts will be assigned and distributed. Rehearsals begin.
10am Directors submit any tech needs.
11:30am Lunch break (with Lunch provided)
12:15pm Afternoon Rehearsals and 45 minute tech slots begin
5:30pm Dinner break (Dinner on your own)
6:30pm Actor Call and House Open
7:00pm Curtain (1st Performance)
9:00pm Curtain (2nd Performance) followed by Awards Ceremony
What materials, if any, should be brought?
Bring a water bottle, pencil and highlighter. The S&S will provide drinks and refreshment for the playwrights during the writing session. The S&S will provide actors and directors with lunch (but dinner will be on-your-own.
Writers
When do the writers need to show up?
Writers will need to report to (location TBD) at 8pm on Friday, August 15th.
What should I bring?
Please bring a laptop or device to the writing session. You can write on whatever media you like, but you will need to submit the play in .doc format by the end of the writing session.
How do I submit my script?
Your host for the evening, the proctor, will provide you with submission instructions when you arrive.
How long will we have to write?
You will need to submit your script by 4am on Saturday, August 16th. This will give you up to 8 hours to write, but most playwrights in our experience have wrapped up by 1 - 2am.
How long can the play be?
8 pages and 10 minutes maximum. If the play goes over ten minutes the play will be stopped for time.
Will I be participating in rehearsals?
No. We will have a seat reserved for you at the 9pm performance. The awards ceremony will follow the 9pm performance.
Are there any limitations to what we can write about or will there be prompts?
We are advertising the festival as ages 18+. You will receive a surprise prompt (or prompts) when you arrive for the writing session.For your planning purposes while writing. you will have access to basic lighting shifts. You can have up to two different sound effects (but used as often as you like).
Will the production have access to props or costume elements?
We are recommending the casts come in actor blacks. If the script requires special elements, depending on what it is, the S&S may be able to provide from our properties and costume collection, but we are limiting it to 4 props per show and 1 costume item per actor for each group. We cannot guarantee we have the items in stock. Simpler is better.
Directors
How do I get assigned to a play, do I get to ‘cast’ my show?
When you arrive at 7:30am, but we recommend 10 minutes early, on Saturday you will draw a show and cast out of a hat.
Where will I rehearse?
You will have a space reserved for you at the Historic Y or the Studio Y (one block away from the Historic Y).
Will I have access to props or costume elements?
We recommend actor blacks. If the script requires special elements, you will need to submit requests by 10am on Saturday. Depending on what it is, the S&S may be able to provide your request from our properties (maximum 4 props) and costume collections (1 item per actor), but we cannot guarantee.
Will there be access to technical elements?
You will have access to basic lighting shifts. You can have up to two different sound effects (but used as often as you like). Directors will need to submit their tech needs list by 10am so that the 24-7 technician can locate sound effects and plan for the tech rehearsal.
How will tech rehearsal work?
Each show will have a 40 minute block for their on-stage time (with 5 minutes for transitioning). The S&S will provide a technician and a stage manager to run the show. After the tech rehearsal the director can decide to continue working with the cast, or the cast can be let go to prepare on their own. All actors will need to be released by 5:30pm for their dinner break.
Will I be able to watch the show?
You will have a seat reserved for you for both the 7pm and the 9pm show. An awards ceremony will follow the 9pm show to close out the festival.
Actors
Will I get to choose the show I act in?
No. You will be randomly assigned to a cast.
Will I need to memorize the script?
No. You will be surprised at how much you can absorb in a day of focused rehearsal for a 10 minute play, but you can be script-free or book-in-hand as you feel comfortable.
Will I be able to watch the other shows?
You will have a seat reserved for you for the 9pm show and you will be free to slip in and out between acts. An awards ceremony will follow the 9pm show to close out the festival.
Will should I wear?
Please come dressed comfortably for the rehearsal period, but bring actor blacks to change into for the performances.
Awards
Will there be awards?
Yes. The awards will be distributed after our 9pm show to close the festival.
Who will be deciding the award winners?
Our ‘Secret Seven’ panel of judges will observe the 7pm show. They will select winners in 7 categories. The panel will judge the applause of the audience for each show to select the winner of the “Audience Choice Award”.
Other questions about the 24-7 Festival? Please email director@scoundrelandscamp.org.