EAST OTTO — The Guerrilla Theatre Project, based in Olean, will utilize Griffis Sculpture Park as the location for the next “Play-in-a-Day” event.
Starting at 6 p.m. Friday and spanning the next 24 hours, the theater group will write plays, audition actors, rehearse and then perform their creation at 7 p.m. Saturday.
The performances will take place at the 6902 Mill Valley Road location of Griffis Sculpture Park. The scenes are going to be set amongst the paths and sculpture areas of the park. The event is free, but donations are greatly appreciated.
“It is definitely a crazy 24 hours for all involved,” said Tristan DeFiore of the Guerrilla Theatre Project. “We start with auditions at 7 p.m., where you have a one-minute speed audition, and then the director and writer teams draft their actors and tell them right after auditions.”
Then the actors and directors go home, and the writers stay all night and write their plays, DeFiore explained. At 7 a.m. Saturday, the actors return and begin learning the plays that these writers write with their directors in a whirlwind day of learning lines and rehearsals.
“Then we end it all at 7 p.m. with a live performance of it all,” he said. “It’s a wild and rewarding time that I am very happy to have been a part of and seen people really enjoy!”
The Guerrilla Theatre Project aims to deliver theatrical experiences that might not otherwise be seen across the Southern Tier in new, original and cutting-edge ways meant to inspire dialogue amongst theatrical enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
DeFiore said he hopes the audience walks away inspired by the raw creativity and immediacy of live theatre and is reminded that powerful stories can emerge from urgency, collaboration and a lot of hard work.
“Witnessing art made in real time is a truly special experience that we hope everyone enjoys,” he added.
Interested actors are encouraged to come to the park at 6 p.m. Friday to audition. If interested in writing or directing one of the plays, contact Guerrilla Theatre Project via Facebook or email info@guerrillatheatreproject.com.
