ARKADELPHIA, Ark.—Ouachita Baptist University’s Department of Theatre Arts will present its 22nd annual All-Night Theatre: A 10-Minute Play Festival on Saturday, March 12, at 7:30 p.m. in Verser Theatre. The festival, hosted by Ouachita’s chapter of Alpha Psi Omega national theatre honor society, is run entirely by students. Performances are free and open to the public. 

The festival showcases what students can achieve through a unique, collaborative process. First, student playwrights may submit original works no more than 10 minutes in length to be considered for the festival. A panel of anonymous faculty, staff and students judge the submissions, and those with the highest scores will be performed. Students may also choose to audition to act in a show, direct a show or assist behind the scenes. On the evening before the performances, students work all night to rehearse, memorize lines and prepare for each play.  

According to Matthew Murry, visiting assistant professor of theatre arts at Ouachita, the shortened timeline to learn a script, plan lighting and design costumes brings excitement and challenges as students put together the necessary details for a production on an abbreviated timeline. 

“We spend months rehearsing the other productions in the department,” he said, “whereas this production begins and ends in 24 hours.” 

 

For more information, contact the OBU Box Office weekdays from 1-5 p.m. at [email protected] or (870) 245-5555.