All the Info on the 24-Hour Play Festival

Come join the fun!

December 12-13, 2025

Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Theatre

Uptown Theatre, 221 First Street NE

Mount Vernon, IA  52314

Frequently Asked Questions

I signed up to be a director/writer. When do I hear if I’m in?

Emails will be sent out 3 weeks prior to the date of the event to confirm your spot or if you’re on the waitlist in case we have more sign-ups than needed. If you are confirmed, but cannot attend, please let us know as soon as possible. If you’re on the waitlist, we will reach out to you if a spot becomes available, but we encourage you to still attend the Friday night session in case of last-minute changes.

What if I’m late on Friday night?

If you will be late, please let us know as soon as possible. There is very little leeway in the schedule due to the nature of the event, but we will make reasonable effort to include everyone who wants to participate. If you’re going to be later than 7:15pm as a writer or director, your spot may be given to someone on the waitlist. If you’re going to be later than 7:30pm as an actor, you may miss being put into a group.

How does the matching process work?

The writers will be called up to the stage where they will draw the director they’ll be working with. The directors will then draw for the genre. Then the writers will draw the quote they have to use. Finally, each director/writer pair will draw for actors, round-robin style, until all of the actors are matched up.

What are the rules for writing the scripts?

Each show should be a brand new work, 10 to 15 minutes long, in the drawn genre and using the drawn line at least once. The use of generative AI, LLMs, etc. are strictly prohibited.

What set pieces, props, lighting, etc. can we use?

MVLCT will be providing two tables and four basic chairs for set pieces. The lighting will be a general wash with some blackouts allowed. Some sound cues can be used, but may be limited by the tech team. Props and costumes must be provided by the actors, directors, and writers. (So, if the writer has specific wishes, it’s a good idea to contact the director as soon as you can.)

This is not how other theaters do this. Why the difference?

Because