Taking place overnight from January 8-9, 2016, StageLab24 is TLC’s version of the 24-hour-theater-project. This is a round-the-clock collaboratory during which ideas go from page to stage in 24-hours at The Village Theater at Cherry Hill in Canton, MI. During that time, a group of authors write several one-act scripts, directors audition and cast, actors rehearse and at the end of that 24-hour period, the performances are staged for the public. This is an intense, theatrical
experience. The public is invited to drop in at any time during the 24-hour-period to see this orchestration in motion.
Up to 6 one-act (10-minute) plays will be performed to an audience on Saturday at 8pm on the Main Stage of The Village Theater with a $15 ticket price.
The authors come from five different cities throughout Michigan. Confirmed authors writing their play in a nine-hour period from 10pm Friday until 7am Saturday include: Brian Cox of Ypsilanti, Brion Scheidel of Canton, Nicole L.V. Mullis of Battle Creek, Lylanne Musselman of Ypsilanti, Jarrod Vanzo of Auburn Hills, Patrick Wears of Canton, and Jeff Wears of Plymouth. Some of these authors are no strangers to the Village Theater. Several of them have had their works
produced in previous Canton One Acts Festivals and the inaugural StageLab24 in 2014.
Confirmed directors who will immediately inherit a one-act play to stage include: Lylanne Musselman (who will be directing her own play) of Ypsilanti, Alexander Trice of Bloomfield Hills, Karen Pritchard of Dearborn, Peter Huschilt of Grand Rapids, Joe Arcel of Plymouth, Kennikki Jones of Hamtramck, and Timothy Majzlik of Canton.
From Jennifer Tobin, Arts Coordinator at the Village Theater: “I love that TLC Productions is a champion for playwrights and new theatrical works. This project is very exciting to me and will push some boundaries as they speed up a process that sometimes takes months and years. The public should take this opportunity to visit a couple of times during the 24 hour period and then come to the final performance. It will be amazing!”
NEW FOR 2016
StageLab24 will feature 2 new elements:
TeenLab365
TeenLab365 is a subset of TLC Productions and StageLab24. It comprises teenagers who have been working 1 year (365 days) on the development of script and rehearsals and they will present their original work during StageLab24. TeenLab365 is produced by Director Kristin Heitmeier of Northville.
TeenLab365 is a unique opportunity for area teens to work as a tight-knit ensemble by writing their own script, owning the audition and rehearsal process and seeing their hard work and creativity come to life on stage as part of TLC Productions’ StageLab24. Heitmeier approached TLC Productions with the idea last year in hopes of partnering to provide a literal stage for teens to bring their words to life through a full theatre immersion experience. From brainstorming script ideas and conducting rehearsals to running the show, TeenLab365 allows teens to explore all aspects of theatre and find their special niche.
TLC Original Play
TLC Productions will stage an original script that has been written, but never has been performed on the Main Stage of The Village Theater. This gives TLC Productions an opportunity to showcase a play they authored. This show, however, has been pre-written.
StageLab24 was launched by TLC Productions in 2014 with a grant from the Partnership for the Arts and the Humanities. StageLab24 is staged every other year, opposite of the Canton One Acts Festival, which TLC Productions also organizes. The 2016 StageLab24 event will be solely funded by TLC Productions.
AUDITIONS NOTICE
StageLab24 will need about 24 actors and actresses to fill the roles of the shows being written Friday night into Saturday morning. “Acting in StageLab24 is only a 12-hour commitment, which is ideal for individuals who cannot commit to months of rehearsals for a typical show,” said Christopher Tremblay, co-founder of TLC Productions.
To audition, actors/actresses are recommended to register online in advance at tlcproductions.org. Auditions will begin at 9:30am on Saturday, January 9 and will continue until 11:00am. Auditions will take place at The Village Theater at Cherry Hill, 50400 Cherry Hill Road, Canton MI 48187. Individuals planning to audition should enter through the Backstage Door. Actors/actresses are required to pay a $10 participation fee if cast. The $10 fee covers lunch, snacks and dinner. Rehearsals will take place from 11am-7pm. Actors/actresses must bring an ALL BLACK outfit to wear if cast.
LOCATION
The entire event (auditions and performance) takes place at The Village Theater at Cherry Hill, 50400 Cherry Hill Rd., Canton, MI, 48187. The Village Theater has free parking and is handicap accessible.
ONE PERFORMANCE
One performance will take place at 8 p.m., Saturday, January 9, 2016.
TICKETS
By phone at the Village Theater Box Office at 734/394-5300 or online at www.cantonvillagetheater.org or tlcproductions.org. You can also purchase tickets in person at the door. Box office opens 1 hour prior to showtime. Tickets are $15.
LIVE MEDIA COVERAGE
All members of the media will be granted Backstage Passes upon request and are invited to cover any part of the event during the 24-hours leading up to the 8pm performance. To arrange media coverage, contact Christopher at christopher@tlcproductions.org.
ABOUT TLC PRODUCTIONS
Formed in 2007, TLC Productions was founded by Tim “T” Chanko, Linda “L” Pohl and Christopher “C” Tremblay. TLC Productions is a resident theater group of The Village Theater at Cherry Hill in Canton, Michigan. The first original work by TLC Productions was Behind the Curtain, which was completed in 2007 and staged in 2008 at The Village Theater. The mission of TLC Productions is to bring original works to the stage. As a Canton-based arts organization, TLC
Productions seeks to provide opportunities for aspiring and emerging playwrights. In addition to authoring new works, TLC Productions has organized the biennial Canton One Acts Festival at The Village Theater since 2011. Since 2008, more than nearly 2,200 theater goers have seen a TLC production. The 2016 production of StageLab24 is TLC Productions’ eighth original production brought to the Village Theater since it was founded.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: christopher@tlcproductions.org
tlcproductions.org or 734-926-8527