The Sauk announces fourth annual ‘24-Hour Theatre Project’

JONESVILLE — The Sauk, Hillsdale County's community theater, will present their fourth annual “24-Hour Theatre Project” with auditions on Friday, April 12 and a public performance at 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 13.

The fun begins at 7 p.m. Friday, April 12, when six directors and six playwrights gather together. They will be given a topic to inspire the creation of a new 10-minute play. At 8 p.m., auditions are held.

The directors and playwrights then select the actors to inspire their new theatrical work. Once the cast is set, the writing begins. Playwrights have until 7 a.m. Saturday morning to write their new works. At 8 a.m., the actors gather to read the scripts for the first time. Rehearsals begin immediately after and then at 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 13, the six new plays will be presented.

"This is such a fun event," said Sauk Executive Director Trinity Bird who is producing and coordinating the event. "It has been really amazing what can happen in that 24-hour period. I am excited to see what happens this year!"

The directors for the evening are Tim Ambrose (Pittsford, MI), Andy Anderson (Jackson, MI), Chris Dube (Jackson, MI), Angela Forant (Hillsdale, MI), Josh Lightner (Springport, MI) and David Trippett (Hillsdale, MI). The playwrights are MJ Dulmage (Hillsdale, MI), Sarah Gray (Jonesville, MI), Scott Mullen (Burbank, CA), Tiffany Thatcher (Homer, MI), G.M. (Bud) Thompson (Grand Rapids, MI) and Matthew Weaver (Spokane, WA). Mandee Leigh Howard is stage manager with lighting and sound design by Joella Hendrickson.

"Anything can happen and it probably will," Bird added. "The public can follow the entire process including live feeds from meetings and rehearsals on The Sauk's Facebook page."

Tickets will not be sold in advance. The box office will open at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 13. This is a "Pay What You (Generously) Can Fundraiser" for the community theater. The Sauk is located at 240 E. Chicago Street in Jonesville. Call 517-849-9100 or visit thesauk.org for more information.

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Auditions will begin at 8 p.m. Friday, April 12. Each person will have up to two minutes to show off what they can do (perform a monologue, tell a story, sing a song, dance, perform a special skill or a combination of these things). Anyone age 15 and up can audition. Actors cast in the project must be available from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, April 13.

"The 24-Hour Theatre Project" is sponsored by Drews Place Assisted Living Communities and State Farm Agent Jason Adcock. The 2024 season is sponsored by Joyous Journey Photography, WCSR Radio Hillsdale, 99-5 The Dale, Simply Hers Magazine and McGraw Publications. The Sauk is supported by the Michigan Arts and Culture Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.

— Contact Reporter Corey Murray atcmurray@hillsdale.net or follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @cmurrayHDN.