Concept to Curtain event on April 25–26 to allow public to write, rehearse and perform play within 24 hour time
It’s curtains for Voorhees, Concept to Curtain that is, when the Fusion Performing Arts Center and After Shock Entertainment hold the third annual Concept to Curtain 24-hour play festival on April 25–26.
Concept to Curtain is for participants of all ages and theater backgrounds, even those with no experience, to conceptualize, write and rehearse their own one-act theater piece in the span of 24 hours and then perform that piece for an audience.
Ryk Lewis, director of the Fusion Performing Arts Center, describes the event as a way to bring performers from all ranges of talents together for a crash course in theater.
“If you ever wanted to be a part of a theatrical production for a theater piece, this is a phenomenal chance to jump in with both feet and see how theater is made,” Lewis said.
Lewis describes Concept to Curtain as interesting on two levels, the first for those with theater experience and the second for those without.
“It’s great for people who don’t have a lot of theater experience to get immersed in the process quickly because they get to see little bits of all of these elements that go into a production…it’s challenging to people who are familiar with theater because they sort of get to stretch themselves and do something very quickly that normally takes months or weeks to put together,” Lewis said.
When all is said and done, and the groups perform their finished work for a live audience, Lewis said that audience will be in for something put together “lightening quick” but still resulting in a creative and interesting piece.
“People are amazed more than anything else,” Lewis said. “People are amazed at the quality of the material that can be created in such a short period of time. They feed off of the fun that the performers had putting together, and the idea that the components didn’t exist 24 hours before they came to see the show is enjoyable for them.”
For those with limited or no theater experience, Lewis said the work is a collaborative effort, so even those new to the art form will still definitely have a place in what is overall a collaborative effort.
“Even if you have some people who aren’t used to doing theater, their ideas still come out and still get talked about and incorporated in some way,” Lewis said.
Experts and amateurs alike interested in participating in the Concept to Curtain event need no more than to come to the Fusion Performing Arts Center on April 25 at 2:30 p.m. to register for $10.
Those under 18 will need to bring a parent with them to sign a permission form, although the event will have adult supervision at all times.
The $10 fee gets performers one pizza meal, but they are invited and encouraged to bring additional meals or snacks for themselves to last the 24 hours.
Those interested in seeing the finished pieces need only to show up to the Fusion Performing Arts Center at 3 p.m. on April 26 with $10 for a seat.
“When you have these people who aren’t used to working together, everybody sort of brings something different to the table,” Lewis said.
