Bringing together the next generation of theatermakers to create new work and form career-long artistic relationships.

Each summer, The 24 Hour Plays brings together a group of talented early-career theater artists for a free professional intensive. All participants are invited into a weeklong experience in NYC featuring workshops, master classes, panel discussions, career development, community building, and more. Each participant receives a $200 stipend. The program culminates in a cohort production of The 24 Hour Plays in an Off-Broadway theater.

In 2023, The 24 Hour Plays partnered with Pace University for a program which ran July 17 – July 24. Participants included early-career actors, directors, playwrights, composers, and producers.

The 24 Hour PLays: Nationals 2023

DYLAN

by IAN REID
directed by AUTUMN ANGELETTIE
stage managed by SAMANTHA GREEN

featuring MARLINA DEVERY, DESTINY BROWN, MIA WALSH CORBETT and EELISA BYRD

ROTTEN IS THE FLESH

by EMMA SCHILAGE
directed by SIMON J.O. MARTIN
stage managed by ALYESKA REIMER
featuring CHLOE MUTEBI, ADDIE GUIDRY, NICOLE BORBONE and SAM GROBMEIER

SWIM

by XIAOYAN KANG
directed by FRANCESCA SABEL
stage managed by HOLLY ADAM
featuring BRANDON BAUTISTA, CASEY LANDMAN, JEADA ELAINE MAY and KAMIAH VICKERS

ORBITING SOMETHING

by LEO LAYLA DIAZ
directed by ZAHRA BUDHWANI
stage managed by LEE MONAHAN
featuring MEL SCHAFFER, CHRIS ERDMAN, HENRY GERMANSKY and LINNEA SCOTT

MY NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION

by KALLAN DANA
directed by NINA GOODHEART
stage managed by VIOLET WOUNDY
featuring VANESSA VIVAS, ANAELA LIA HURT, EMMET SMITH and ELLA LEH

THE BRO’S VISIT

book by MANTRA RADHAKRISHNAN
music and lyrics by STEPHANIE L. CARLIN
directed by MACKENNA GOODIRCH
stage managed by JULIA GANGEMI
featuring BRYAN FREEDMAN, RUCHIR KHAZANCHI, MEGAN LOMAX and NICHOLAS TURTURRO

Producers: SOFIA LORENA AGUIRRE, SARAH JONES, MADDY ROSALER

Costume Designer: KAT BELFER

Lighting Designer: RACHEL FIORITO

Props Designer: EMILY FUJIOKA

Scenic Designer: ARIELLE SILBERT

Sound Designer: AMELIA WAY

THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS

The 24 Hour Plays: Nationals is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

The 24 Hour Plays Nationals 2019 full company scaled

The 24 Hour Plays Nationals 2019 tech 3 scaled

Nationals ALUMs

Alum of The 24 Hour Plays: Nationals are everywhere in the entertainment industry, on and off Broadway, in television and film, in the leadership of theaters here and abroad. Past participants include playwrights Bekah Brunstetter, Gracie Gardner, Ken Greller, Dave Harris, Gethsemane Herron-Coward, Laura Jacqmin, Josh Koenigsberg, Mike Lew, Mara Nelson-Greenberg, Liliana Padilla, Eliana Pipes, Andrew Rincón, Harrison David Rivers and Celine Song; actors Tessa Albertson, Pico Alexander, Satya Babha, Alice Kremelberg, Elizabeth Lail, Naomi Lorrain, Tedra Millan, Bobby Moreno, Ebonee Noel, Coral Peña, Zoe Perry, Will Rogers, Brandon Scott, Chris Smith, Chelsea Spack, Haskiri Velazquez and Natalie Walker; producers Shariffa Ali, Abigail Jean-Baptiste, Kelcie Beene, Hope Chavez, Carly Hugo, Madelyn Paquette and Patrick Anthony Surillo; and directors Jake Beckhard, Lyndsay Burch, Miranda Cornell, James Dacre, Ryan Dobrin, Taylor Reynolds, Colette Robert, Laura Savia and James Dacre.

Industry Professional Leaders

Previous Nationals have featured panel discussions with Annie Baker, Jocelyn Bioh, Renee Blinkwolt, Michael Chernus, Claire Danes, Kristoffer Diaz, Maria Dizzia, Timothy Douglas, Rachel Dratch, Jesse Eisenberg, Joel Marsh Garland, J. Holtham, Lucas Hnath, Russell G. Jones, Julia Jordan, Thomas Kail, Karen Kohlhaas, Warren Leight, David Lindsay-Abaire, Aasif Mandvi, Victor Malana Maog, Michael Mitnick, Lou Moreno, Bruce Norris, Denis O’Hare, A. Rey Pamatmat, Austin Pendleton, Hubert Point-Du Jour, Portia, Max Posner, Adam Rapp, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Christopher Shinn, Leigh Silverman, Rachel Sussman, Liesl Tommy and many other stage and screen professionals.

FAQs

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WHEN ARE NATIONALS THIS YEAR?

The 24 Hour Plays: Nationals 2024 will take place July 15-22, 2024.

WHEN CAN I APPLY?

Applications will open in February of 2024. Check back soon for specific dates and more information.

WheRE DOES THE PROGRAM TAKE PLACE?

Nationals will take place at Pace University’s campus in lower Manhattan, with a culminating performance of The 24 Hour Plays in an off-Broadway theater.

What is the Day-to-Day Schedule of the program like?

From Monday July 15 to Friday July 19, Nationals participants should plan to be available from approximately 10am – 6pm for professional development programs, artistic workshops, community-building, and panels with working professionals in their fields. Much of your experience at The 24 Hour Plays will be spent together with your full cohort, but some of your time will be tailored specifically to your discipline (i.e. actors may have a movement class while directors have a fellowship application workshop, etc.). Participants will have Saturday off and then return on Sunday, July 21 to begin the 24 Hour Plays process. We kick off with a meet-and-greet on Sunday night, followed by an all-night writing session for writers, and a full day of rehearsal, tech, and production on Monday, July 22.

wHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?

Theater artists who are over 18 and no more than seven years out of high school (class of ‘17 or later) OR four years out of undergraduate or equivalent study (class of ‘20 or later). Conservatory training after the completion of a separate undergraduate degree is generally not considered equivalent study. Please email nationals@24hourplays.com if you have questions about eligibility.

The Nationals program includes tracks for 24 actors, 6 directors, 6 playwrights, 6 stage managers, 5 designers (lighting, sound, scenic, props, costume), 3 producers, and 1 composer. Applicants may apply for multiple tracks (i.e. as an actor and director) but may NOT be accepted in multiple tracks nor participate in the program more than once.

How much does the program cost?

Nothing! It is completely free and all participants will receive a $200 participation stipend.

Do I have to live in NYC to participate?

Applications are open to artists who are based anywhere! As long as you are able to join us in New York City in-person July 15 – 22, you are welcome to apply. We are unfortunately unable to help with travel or lodging costs for out of town participants.