PR Productions is doing what no other local theatre group has ever attempted. In just 24 hours of consecutive rehearsal time, over a dozen actors and actresses will create a full length musical performance.
Performances of the “24 Hour Theatre Project”, presented by PR Productions of Sandwich, are to be held Saturday, October 15, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, October 16, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. All performances are held at the Sandwich Opera House, 140 E. Railroad Street, Sandwich.
Tickets are now on sale for $10.00 in advance and $12.00 at the door, and can be purchased by visiting www.wewantpr.com or by calling PR Productions at 815-797-9565.
“People have told us that we’re crazy,” said Kris Pagoria, Co-Founder of PR Productions and director of the project. “We really just want the community to believe in us.”
Pagoria, of Sandwich, has been directing musical productions for various theatre groups throughout DeKalb County since 2005, and has directed full musicals in two weeks, but never in just 24 hours.
“This is literally the most challenging thing I will have ever done in a theatre setting,” he said. “Most productions take 2-3 months, or more, to create.”
A total of 14 cast members have been invited to join the “24 Hour Theatre Project”. Most are college students who are from Sandwich, Plano, Oswego, Genoa, Sycamore, Somonauk, Bloomington, Chicago and Peru.
“I don’t know what to expect,” said Wade Tischhauser, a current Milikin University student from Genoa. “We haven’t been told what show we are performing, and won’t find out until we start the rehearsal…that, to me, is what makes me nervous.”
Cast members will gather on the evening of Friday, October 14, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. At that time, specific details on the project will be announced to the project members. Rehearsals will begin immediately and will continue for 24 hours. At the conclusion of that time, project members will break for one hour, and then open the show for public performances.
“I’ve done community theatre and loved it,” said Rachel Page, a Chicago resident formerly from Sandwich. “When I was asked to join this cast, how could I pass it up? I’ve been challenged before, but never like this.”
The production will not be announced to the community until Friday night as well, preserving the secrecy that has become such a large mystery about the project. Chris Roe, a Plano resident and Co-Founder of PR Productions, said that the production crew can guarantee a family-friendly production.
“You won’t be disappointed,” he said. “We’ve chosen a show that will entertain all ages, and leave them with memorable lyrics and dances once the show ends.”
The cast of the “24 Hour Theatre Project” includes Jimmy Capek (Genoa), Natalie Creviston (Genoa), Caitlin Elsik (Sycamore), Rachel Harker (Plano), Callie Johnson (Genoa), Hunter Lindner (Sandwich), Heather Owens (Plano), Emily Padilla (DeKalb), Rachel Page (Chicago), Kevin Pajor (Bloomington), Lara Panke (Cortland), Christopher Roe (Plano), Wade Tischhauser (Genoa), and David Zallis (Peru.)
“I have never performed in the Opera House,” said David Zallis. “The venue is not as important as proving to myself that I can do this, and proving to the community that it can be done.”
Pagoria said that a lot of information is being revealed daily on the group’s Facebook page, from secrets that reveal information about the production to video interviews with each cast member. To become a fan of the project and be one of the first to learn what the production is, search for “PR Productions presents the 24 Hour Theatre Project” on Facebook. Roe explained that this project is more than just putting on a show.
“The show is just the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow,” he shared. “We’re asking for belief in our desire to challenge ourselves as performers and for the faith and support from our community.”
The project is funded independently and all proceeds will be used for similar projects in the future, and will be open to children, teens and adults. The organization has also been surprised with several in-kind donations from local businesses.
“The word got out about this project and all of the sudden, we started getting calls,” said Pagoria.
The “24 Hour Theatre Project” has received in-kind donations from Stonefire Restaurant, Jimmy Johns and Froots of Yorkville, Tastee Bite of Plano, Pizza Hut and Top Shelf Grill of Sandwich, and Nel’s Catering of Somonauk. For more information on PR Productions’ “24 Hour Theatre Project,” log on to the group’s website at www.wewantpr.com or find “PR Productions” on Facebook.
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