APPLICATIONS CLOSED MARCH 2024. CHECK BACK SOON FOR 2025 APPLICATION INFO.
Each summer, The 24 Hour Plays bring together a group of talented early-career theater artists for a free professional intensive in partnership with Pace University. Participants are invited to take part in workshops, master classes, panel discussions, career development, community building, and more in NYC. Each participant receives a stipend to participate. The program culminates in a cohort production of The 24 Hour Plays in an Off-Broadway theater.
The 24 Hour Plays: Nationals 2024 run July 15 – July 22. Participants include early-career actors, directors, playwrights, composers, producers, designers and stage managers. Eligible participants are over 18 and no more than seven years out of high school (class of ’17 or later) OR four years out of undergraduate or equivalent study (class of ’20 or later).
Applications closed March 10, 2024. Finalists are notified late April or early May.
See the FAQ below for more information on the program in 2024. Dates and more information for 2025 will be released ASAP. If you have questions, please email nationals@24hourplays.com.
Bringing together the next generation of theatermakers to create new work and form career-long artistic relationships.
Nationals ALUMs
Alum of The 24 Hour Plays: Nationals are everywhere in the entertainment industry, on and off Broadway, in television and film, in the leadership of theaters here and abroad. Past participants include playwrights Bekah Brunstetter, Gracie Gardner, Ken Greller, Dave Harris, Gethsemane Herron-Coward, Laura Jacqmin, Josh Koenigsberg, Mike Lew, Mara Nelson-Greenberg, Liliana Padilla, Eliana Pipes, Andrew Rincón, Harrison David Rivers and Celine Song; actors Tessa Albertson, Pico Alexander, Satya Babha, Alice Kremelberg, Elizabeth Lail, Naomi Lorrain, Tedra Millan, Bobby Moreno, Ebonee Noel, Coral Peña, Zoe Perry, Will Rogers, Brandon Scott, Chris Smith, Chelsea Spack, Haskiri Velazquez and Natalie Walker; producers Shariffa Ali, Abigail Jean-Baptiste, Kelcie Beene, Hope Chavez, Carly Hugo, Madelyn Paquette and Patrick Anthony Surillo; and directors Jake Beckhard, Lyndsay Burch, Miranda Cornell, James Dacre, Ryan Dobrin, Taylor Reynolds, Colette Robert, Laura Savia and James Dacre.
Industry Professional Leaders
Previous Nationals have featured panel discussions with Annie Baker, Jocelyn Bioh, Renee Blinkwolt, Michael Chernus, Claire Danes, Kristoffer Diaz, dots, Maria Dizzia, Timothy Douglas, Rachel Dratch, Jesse Eisenberg, Joel Marsh Garland, J. Holtham, Lucas Hnath, Russell G. Jones, Julia Jordan, Thomas Kail, Karen Kohlhaas, Warren Leight, David Lindsay-Abaire, Aasif Mandvi, Victor Malana Maog, Michael Mitnick, Lou Moreno, Bruce Norris, Denis O’Hare, A. Rey Pamatmat, Austin Pendleton, Hubert Point-Du Jour, Portia, Max Posner, Adam Rapp, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Christopher Shinn, Leigh Silverman, Rachel Sussman, Liesl Tommy and many other stage and screen professionals.
FAQs
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WHEN ARE NATIONALS THIS YEAR?
July 15-22, 2024.
WHEN CAN I APPLY?
Applications opened February 13, 2024 and close March 10, 2024 at 11:59 PM, ET.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?
Theater artists who are over 18 and no more than seven years out of high school (class of ‘17 or later) OR four years out of undergraduate or equivalent study (class of ‘20 or later). Conservatory training after the possible completion of a separate undergraduate degree is generally not considered equivalent study. Please email nationals@24hourplays.com if you have questions about eligibility.
If you have applied in the past but have not participated, you are welcome to apply again! Artists who have already participated in Nationals years are not able to apply again.
HOW MANY ARTISTS WILL BE ACCEPTED INTO NATIONALS?
The Nationals program includes tracks for 24 actors, 6 directors, 6 playwrights, 6 stage managers, 5 designers (lighting, sound, scenic, props, costume), 3 producers, and 1 composer (composers can apply as an individual or in teams of two).
Applicants may apply for multiple tracks (i.e. as an actor and director) but may NOT be accepted in multiple tracks nor participate in the program more than once.
WHERE DOES THE PROGRAM TAKE PLACE?
Nationals will take place at Pace University’s campus in downtown NYC. The culminating performance of The 24 Hour Plays on Monday July 22 will be Off-Broadway at Classic Stage Company’s Lynn F. Angelson Theater.
What is the Day-to-Day Schedule of the program like?
From Monday July 15 to Friday July 19, Nationals participants should plan to be available from approximately 10am – 6pm for professional development programs, artistic workshops, community-building, and panels with working professionals in their fields. Much of your experience at The 24 Hour Plays will be spent together with your full cohort, but some of your time will be tailored specifically to your discipline (i.e. actors may have a movement class while directors have a fellowship application workshop, etc.). Participants will have Saturday off and then return on Sunday, July 21 to begin the 24 Hour Plays process. We kick off with a meet-and-greet on Sunday night, followed by an all-night writing session for writers, and a full day of rehearsal, tech, and production on Monday, July 22.
How much does the program cost?
Nothing! It is completely free and all participants will receive a $200 participation stipend.
Do I have to live in NYC to participate?
Applications are open to artists who are based anywhere! As long as you are able to join us in New York City in-person July 15 – 22, you are welcome to apply. We are unfortunately unable to help with travel or lodging costs for out of town participants.
I have more questions!
Email us at nationals@24hourplays.com and we’re happy to answer any more questions you might have.
PRODUCTION HISTORY
