What is Play-In-A-Day?
Teams of local artists work in the course of 24 hours to create short plays (10 min. or less) with a theme given to them the day before and these works are presented off-book with minimal props/set/costumes for a live audience.
For the past two decades the annual theatrical fundraising event Play-In-A-Day has been led by Producing Artistic Director Beth Marshall. During those years the event has been held and has benefitted a variety of local venues such as: SAK Comedy Lab, Orlando Fringe, The Central Florida Theatre Alliance, The Central Florida Arts Alliance, Orlando Shakes, Lake Howell Theatre Company, (Virtually during Covid) and most recently at Penguin Point Productions.
PIAD has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars & In-Kind Goods/Services for such organizations as: PlayFest, PULSE, The Trayvon Martin Foundation, GOPAR, Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS, The Loveland Foundation, The Bail Project, Planned Parenthood, The District 3 Thespian Wild Card Scholarship, Conway Cares, The Inclusivity Project, FEED the NEED and most recently BMP TOP TEENS Scholarship Fund.
Artistically, the event has given platform to thousands of theatre-makers to create short plays and in some cases musicals, dances, visual art, music/songwriting, poetry and experimental art forms all within a 24-hour time frame full of unique themes, prompts, twists, genres and surprises. While there have been changes throughout the years in structure of the event, a few things always ring true:
- The event has been and will remain a 100% volunteer event serving the Central Florida artistic community and giving artists space to create in a fun unique way.
- Teams work together in a 24- hour format to create 10- minute (or less fully staged works)
- PIAD benefits and serves all voices with intentionality to amplify a mix of voices from a variety of corners of our Central Florida artistic community.
- Someone is ALWAYS in DRAG (which is not illegal in Florida)!
Ages 13 and Up for possible Adult Language - Mature Themes - Violence
*performance may include audience interaction and strobe lights*
Run time is approximately 2 hours with a 15 minute intermission.
Beth Marshall Presents is a 14 year old independent nomadic theatre company based in Orlando Florida, committed to producing theatre that challenges our audiences, deeply explores the human condition and amplifies voices with a special focus on contemporary and newer works, original premieres, socio-political dramas, touring festival circuits and bridging the gap for emerging artists transitioning to professional theatre.