On Saturday, Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m., the Ashland University theatre department will be performing their seventh annual 24-hour theatre.

With coffee in hand and determined faces, creative minds will come together to shape an entire theatre production from scratch in only 24-hours. From script-writing, to set-building, to learning roles, a crew of dedicated people will put their talents to the test to create an original performative piece.

Starting as a senior project around eight years ago for Megan Harvey, an Ashland University theatre major graduate, the 24-hour theatre project expanded and has now been made a tradition in Alpha Psi Omega, the honorary society for theatre.

“Everyone has expressed a need for it here and the want to do it,” says Leanna Uselton, the second-year director of the project and current president of APO, “and it just grew from there.”

At 7:30 p.m. on Friday, writers will work through the night to create a script after the actors go through auditions. Once the writing process is finished, the actors will return at 6 a.m. the day of the performance and begin taking the words written on paper and bring it to life.

“You only run the show all the way through probably three or four times,” says second-year participant Emilee Fletcher, “you surprise yourself with what you’re capable of doing.”

“It’s crazy how it all comes together in literally 24-hours,” third-year participant Meredith Morgan shares, “I was really impressed.”

As the years have passed, the theatre program has changed at Ashland University and a major for theatre is no longer offered, altering the 24-hour theatre project.

“It is very different without the major here,” explains Uselton, “our majors did a huge chunk of things. I just hope that this tradition continues and there continues to be a want and a need for it.” The performance is usually live-streamed, but this year it is expected to be recorded and uploaded at a later date.