For the 10th time, I took part as a writer in Overnight Sensations, the 24-hour play festival sponsored by Hollins University and Mill Mountain Theatre. I’ve also taken part in five other timed writing events at other theatres, so this was my 15th overall.
Here’s how Overnight Sensations works: On Friday night, the six writers, six directors, and assorted cast members (and others) gathered at Hollins. The writers drew our directors from a hat (I drew Richie Cannaday), then the writers and directors took turns drawing a cast, a genre (I drew science fiction), a setting (a cocktail lounge) and a theme (I drew “before we lie to others we must first lie to ourselves.”) Then the writers have overnight to write a 10-minute play, with rehearsals on Saturday and a show Saturday night. Here’s how this year’s went down.
This was the first in-person Overnight Sensations I’ve done since before the pandemic, so it felt a lot like the band getting back together. This pre-event photo felt like an album cover to me. From front to back: Mike Allen (an actor in a different show), Ben R. Williams (fellow writer), Phil Johnson (fan and photographer) and Bryan Hancock (who wound up an actor in my show).
Kit Hathcock handled the ceremonial drawing from the hat. That’s Todd Ristau, our Supreme Leader, behind her.
Director Richie Cannaday draws from the hat.
More hat-drawing just because this is very cool. That’s Phil taking a photo of fellow writers Ben R. Williams and Dominic Taylor.
That’s Todd Ristau giving us instructions. On the floor beside him are, from right, producing manager Gwyneth Strope and technical support Kit Hathcock and Vic Lucas. On stage at right are writer Monica Herbert an director Ochieng Oduour.
Some of the props and costumes available.
Finally, my cast. From left: Gabe Gilbertson, Sophia Menconci, Mack Burns, Sherilyn Lawson, Bryan Hancock and Mary Jean Levin.
Sherilyn, Bryan and Mary Jean I knew from Roanoke, the others were new to me. So, at this point, I went home to write what became 17,000 HEADS, OR, THE SCIENCE IS SOUND.
dwayneyancey 