14/48, "The World's Quickest Theater Festival", Coming Up at ACT

Theater artists are notoriously slow to create. A single production from the page to the stage often takes years, if it happens at all. The purpose of 14/48: The World's Quickest Theater Festival is, in some sense, to pose the question to theater artists: Can you put aside all your clichés; suspend all your perceived limitations of subject, ability and style; search beyond all your usual habits and resources—and just create something? Now?

This question has been answered semi-annually since November 1997 by around 100 different theater artists every year: "Yes, we can."

14/48 means just that. 14 brand new productions completely from scratch, page to stage, in 48 hours. Themes are chosen semi-randomly, the first night by the actors, the second night by the audiences from the first night. Each night debuts seven plays, written that morning, rehearsed that afternoon, set to music at lunchtime. The process is exhausting, grueling even, yet holds the potential for absolute magic and the threat of absolute disaster. Indeed that is its appeal. Theater is not meant to be safe and sanitary, and 14/48 helps return theater to its rough roots. The festival pushes not only the artists but also the audiences themselves beyond their own cliches, limitations, habits and resources.

The 14/48 blog lists the remarkable assemblage of talent for the upcoming two weekends. Even Seattlest's own Jose Amador will be on hand as the featured guest blogger for the first weekend. If you've never been to 14/48 before, this is a chance to make good on that New Year's Resolution to support your local artists.

It all happens in the Falls Theatre at ACT, January 7-8 and again January 14-15. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 day of the show. Or, buy a $50 all-fest pass good for both weekends. Tickets are available from ACT here.

January 7-8 // A Contemporary Theatre, 700 Union Street // $20-$50