A Festival of Firsts: The 12th Annual 24 Hour Play Festival

The 24 Hour Play Festival is a true test of teamwork and time management. Starting at 6:00 pm on Saturday, January 11, five teams were formed by Theater Arts Director Jonathan Barron ’96, and were sent off to begin crafting their scripts, knowing they had to have a final draft by the following morning in order to begin rehearsals. The next day, directors brought the scripts to life, while actors worked through multiple rehearsals to master their lines and characters. By 5:00 pm, the plays were performed live for an eager audience, showcasing the results of intense collaboration and creativity.

Reflecting on the student-driven nature of the production, Mr. Barron enthusiastically recalled how, “This festival was all about the students, and that's the way it should be. All I had to do was open and close the curtains.” He also noted how this festival isn’t just a fun activity to do with friends, but a gateway to opportunities beyond high school. “Most of them don't realize that they are practicing and developing new skills that will apply to anything even if it has nothing to do with theater,” he explained. “I've spoken to some students since the festival and highlighted parts of their experience that would be great to talk about during a college interview or add to the supplemental application material.” 

One of the key aspects that makes the 24 Hour Play Festival unique is that each play needs to incorporate three specific items into their play. This year, the mandatory items included a character named C.S. Goodwin, a “ring” used either as a prop or costume piece, and the line of dialogue, “Can we write every day together?” Students embraced these elements with creativity, incorporating them in a variety of imaginative ways—from an engagement ring as a prop to one play being set in a boxing ring.

The first play, titled “Wilbur’s Journey Through the Junkyard: Love, Death, and the Golden Ring,” followed mice Wilbur and Po on an adventure through a junkyard, where they encountered terrifying and unexpected events at the end of the road. Writer and actor Iris ’25, reflecting on the process, shared that her favorite part was, “the collaboration within the group. We had to work together to construct every aspect of our play, from the script to the props, while also trying things that were completely new to all of us.” Her stage debut felt less nerve-wracking, thanks to working alongside close friends, allowing the group to collaborate successfully.

Next up was “The Dos and Don’ts of Improv,” a play that cleverly broke the fourth wall by having one of the characters directly instruct the audience on how to create a successful improv act. This advice stemmed from mistakes made by the characters on stage as they attempted to perform an improvised scene. However, instead of progressing through the scene, the character offering advice had the others “move back through time,” repeatedly, restarting the scene in an effort to perfect it. After several attempts, the scene culminated in a surprising twist: one of the characters confessed their love to the one speaking to the audience, leading to a heartwarming wedding ceremony. 

The group of students behind “The Dos and Don’ts of Improv” faced some challenges in bringing it to life, emphasizing the need for quick thinking during this process. Writer and actor Maya ’25 said that, “my co-writer and fellow actor got sick Sunday morning, and wasn't able to be there to perform. So I (with help), had to cut a character from the script. I was a bit sad because we had to cut a couple of my favorite lines, but the end product was amazing, so it's okay!” 

The next group presented their play titled “El Robo Del Prado,” which translates to “The Theft at The Prado.” The story begins with a character writing in her diary, expressing how she’s constantly compared to her sister, who seems to excel at everything. The play then alternates between her story and scenes with security guards at The Prado Museum. As a cry for attention, the main character steals a piece of art from the museum but is caught by the security officers, ending on a sour note as she is sent to prison. Writer and actor Álvaro ’27, in thinking about his second 24 Hour Play Festival, called the experience “fun and exciting.” “It seemed like a great way to spend my weekend, and I couldn’t have been more right,” he shared. “Like last year, I had a blast creating the script with my friends and acting alongside them.”

The only musical of the festival, “I Know Who You Are,” featured three original songs. The story follows a frustrated coffee shop customer who vents to her friend about one of the employees, only for the employee to confront her after hearing that the customer claims to know who they are deep down. As misunderstandings unfold, the two work through their differences and find common ground. The production featured both student actors and musicians to bring the piece to life. Director and actor Nik ’27 shared that they “really enjoyed teaching the actors and seeing the show come to life on stage,” emphasizing the unique opportunity the festival provides for students to explore different roles in theater.

Closing out the night was “Written in the Ring,” a play that featured many students making their stage debuts. The story begins with two boxers warming up for their fight, but after suffering a defeat, one fighter confesses that they never wanted to be a boxer and always dreamed of being a writer. Another character overhears this and shares their own similar feelings, offering support for the fighter’s artistic ambitions. As this conversation unfolds, the rest of the actors prepare for a choreographed routine involving chairs as props, and culminating in a lively kick line, showing that they embrace this character’s wishes as well. 

Kailin ’25, an actor in the “Written in the Ring,” shared that her motivation to take the stage was “to experience a new aspect of the VA community that some of my peers partake in every day. As a senior, I want to participate in as much as possible while enjoying my last year here.” Kailin and her fellow actors, many of whom are also her teammates on VA’s Girls’ Varsity Hockey team, certainly ended the night with plenty of laughter and cheers from the audience.

The 12th Annual 24 Hour Play Festival was, once again, a testament to the creativity, dedication, and spirit of Vermont Academy students. “The support each student gave to their teammates and members of the other productions was amazing to see,” recalled Mr. Barron. “When a challenge came up, nobody complained about anything, they instantly went into problem-solving mode and came up with brilliant, inclusive solutions. If someone asks me what this festival is, I can point to this one and say this is the quintessential example of everything the 24 Hour Play Festival is meant to be.” The performances were a celebration of what can be achieved through collaboration, hard work, and, of course, a bit of theatrical magic. We already can’t wait for next year’s plays!

Photos from the performances can be found here.

The plays and their respective writers, directors, and actors were:

“Wilbur’s Journey Through the Junkyard: Love, Death, and the Golden Ring”

Writers: Iris Adamoli-Puchalik ’25, Hazel Barreras ’25, Maya Carbone ’27, alumna Zoe Jacobs ’24, Alyson Lantz ’25, Oliver Walsh-Fischetti ’25

Director: Ana Hernandez-Merkle ’25

Actors: Iris Adamoli-Puchalik ’25, Hazel Barreras ’25, Maya Carbone ’27, Alyson Lantz ’25, and Oliver Walsh-Fischetti ’25

“The Dos and Don'ts of Improv”

Writers: Andy Darcy ’25, Casey Rhodes ’27, Maya Sbardellati ’25

Director: Casey Rhodes ’27

Actors: YeHoon Allen ’28, Gabby Clavel-McCann ’27, Casey Rhodes ’27, Maya Sbardellati ’25

“El Robo Del Prado”

Writers: Sara Martínez Mateos ’26, Eloise Sicotte ’26, Álvaro Vega Martin ’27

Director: Alexa Valderrama Ledezma ’25

Actors: Juliette Bélanger ’25, Alejandro González Bonet ’27, Bruna Bonilla ’28, Sara Martínez Mateos ’26, Eloise Sicotte ’26, Álvaro Vega Martin ’27

“I Know Who You Are”

Writers & Composers: Asper Donath ’26, Evelyn Meyer ’28

Music Director: Asper Donath ’26

Director: Nik Dunbar ’27

Band: Asper Donath ’26, Evelyn Meyer ’28, Luke Pennell ’26

Actors: Asper Donath ’26, Nik Dunbar ’27, Ysabelle Houde ’28, Caitlin Masure ’25, Evelyn Meyer ’28

“Written in the Ring”

Writers: Juliette Bélanger ’25, Clary Rollet ’27

Director: Suki Lambert ’25

Actors: Aubrie Adair ’25, Abby Buckley ’26, Carley Guarino ’26, Taylor Gleeson ’25, Allie Guyer ’25, Kennedy Jensen ’26, Suki Lambert ’25, Kailin Sullivan ’25

Theater Tech Crew:

Producer: Jonathan Barron ’96

Sound Design/Sound Operator: Steve Cady

Stage Manager/Light Design/Light Operator: Henry Adelson ’27

Assistant Stage Manager: Jonathan Barron ’96

Special thanks go to the maintenance and housekeeping crew, VA families, and the entire VA community for their support.