24 hours of creativity

University of Toledo theater students pulled an all-nighter this past weekend and flexed their creative muscles to

invent, organize and produce their very own plays.

Hosted by Alpha Psi Omega and sponsored by UT’s Theatre Department, 24-Hour Plays is a theater event to showcase student creativity and performing skills.

“It is a 24-hour event at which the participants get together, divide into groups, and then it is their job to write, direct and act in their very own play,” said Alexis Johnson, fourth-year theater major and president of Alpha Psi Omega.

The student performers had 24 hours to plan their performance, beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday evening until Saturday at 6 p.m. The performances began at 7:30 p.m. and were open to both students and community members.

Johnson said this was her fifth year taking part in 24-Hour Plays, and she enjoyed it for many reasons.

“It’s a great way for non-majors and majors to get to know each other,” Johnson said. “It also helps a lot of non-majors learn more about theater, and a lot of people return the next year.”

Second-year theater major Kevin Upham said that this was his first year performing in 24-Hour Plays.

“No matter what the plays come out to be, whether they’re very brilliant plays or just average plays, it’s always a fun experience for the students and for anyone involved really,” Upham said. “It’s a great bonding experience, you just get to go on stage and be free and creative.”

Upham is a pledge educator for Alpha Psi Omega, and said he enjoys how the fraternity not only promotes theatre amongst students, but is also philanthropic.

“In addition to spreading theater, promoting it wherever we can, we hope to help out the community as well,” said Upham.

Both Johnson and Upham were pleased with this weekend’s performance, and said there were few things they would change for future 24 Hour Plays.

“This year went extremely well,” Johnson said. “Normally we have a few bumps in the road, but this group was extremely excited to be a part of the event and most of the people who participated were non-majors.”

Johnson encourages others to go to the theater in the future, just for fun.

“Yeah, going to see a movie is great. But here's the thing, for the same price you could see a live show,” she said. “You can be in the room with them performing. You get to see the tech elements, you get to feel with these people. The experience is completely different than that of a movie – a once in a lifetime experience.”