More Information About L.A. Cafe Plays

Description

Back in the 50s, Rachel Rosenthal innovated what she called “Instant Theater”, plays created literally overnight, spanning only 24 hours from script to performance. Venues all over the country have adopted this format of entertainment on an occasional basis, as the creativity-under-pressure has proven to be both fun for artists and audience. At least three groups in L.A. have been doing plays –in-24-hours.

Ruskin Group Theatre Company producers Markus Flanagan and Mikey. Myers one-up the other groups by having their company create five short plays in just 10 1/2 hours. At 9 am on the day of the event, writers will sit in café (hence the title of the event) in Santa Monica and complete their scripts in four hours. Directors and actors then rehearse. There are two performances that evening, at 7:30 pm and 9pm.

Flanagan says his direct inspiration comes from New York's A-Train Plays, in which plays set in a subway car are written entirely during one route-long ride. He believes the L.A. Café Plays format is less artistically limiting.

In addition to resident artists at the theatre, artistic associates of national reputation lend their talents to this occasional ongoing activity at the theatre. Past participants have included Broadway vet Rod McLaughlin, writer/director Jenny O'Hara, writer/director Michael Goldberg, actors Jason Gedrick, Michael DeLuise, Tracy Nelson, Mark Ilsley, and novelist Kate Mayfield.