Local Arts Group Brings 24-Hour-Theater-Project to Canton

Canton's own TLC Productions is about to do the near impossible: a 24-hour theater project.

StageLab24 will take place overnight from Jan. 10 to Jan. 11 and will be a round-the-clock event during which ideas will go from the page to the stage in just 24-hours

The exciting event will begin with a group of authors writing one-act scripts. Directors will audition and cast, actors will rehearse, and at the end of the 24-hour period, the performances will be staged for the public. The entire event will take place at The Village Theater at Cherry Hill. 

The event is supported by a grant from the Partnership for the Arts and Humanities of Canton.

Christopher Tremblay, a Co-Founder of TLC Productions, said the idea for a 24-hour production came to him while visiting Chautauqua, New York.

"I met a woman from Northampton, Massachusetts, who was telling me about a 24-hour-theater-project they did there," he said. "So I researched the theater and pitched it to my co-founders of TLC Productions, we applied for a grant, and voila! We're doing it! That simple."

There are nine confirmed authors writing plays in a 9-hour time period from 10 p.m. Friday until 7 a.m. Saturday. Among them are Brion Scheidel and Jacob Zinke, both of Canton. The two will actually write together as a team. 

"The thing that intrigued me the most was working with somebody else, co-writing a play," Scheidel said. "There are two teams of multiple authors and then there are several individual authors. I had met Jake last January when we were putting on the one-acts festival. When Chris asked if I wanted to work with him, I was really excited because I had met him and I liked his play. He's actually had quite a bit more playwright experience than I do, so I think it will be a great opportunity for me to learn from somebody." 

Craig Hane, Artistic Director and Founder of Barefoot Productions in Plymouth, will be one of the directors who will immediately inherit a one-act play to stage. 

Hane was encouraged to apply to be one of the directors for the project by Tim Chanko and Linda Pohl, the other two parts of TLC Productions, when they attended a performance of "Murder by Poe" put on by Barefoot Productions. 

"I considered it a great compliment, so, I did, that night, and i'm in," Hane said in an email to Patch. "I have been involved in three '24-hour' projects in the past; a Stage event, a Film event and even a Bake-off. I enjoy the challenge, to 'create' on the spot."

Instead of his usual five to seven week rehearsal schedule for a show, Hane will have about six hours to read the script, cast the show and rehearse. 

"Luckily, with my 30 plus years of staging shows, it is almost natural for me now to pick up a script and 'visualize' it as I read it for the first time," Hane said. "I have a good eye, for the actors, at a rehearsal. I need to take few notes. I, usually, can tell immediately if an actor is right for the part. And as for the 4 hours of rehearsal, they will be intense, fun, but intense. I am looking forward to working with everyone involved with the project."

StageLab24 will need between 16-32 actors and actresses to fill the roles of the shows being written Friday night into Saturday morning.

“Acting in StageLab24 is only a 12-hour commitment, which is ideal for 
individuals who cannot commit to months of rehearsals for a typical show,” Tremblay said.

To audition, actors and actresses should register online in advance at 
tlcproductions.org. Auditions will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 11 and will continue until 11:00 a.m. Actors and actresses are required to pay a $10 participation fee if cast. The $10 fee covers lunch and dinner for them. Rehearsals will take place 
from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. They must bring an all black outfit to wear if cast.

Tickets are available by phone at the Village Theater Box Office at 734-394-5300 or 734-394-5460 or online at www.canton-mi.org, cantonvillagetheater.org, or at
tlcproductions.org.You can also purchase tickets in person at The Summit on the Park or at the door. Box office opens one hour prior to showtime. Tickets are $12. Only 80 tickets are available.