Rubber Chicken Theater presents one-day ‘The Chicken Hat Plays’

• Chicken Hat Plays

Above: Kirsten Hambleton, Cory Regnier at last year's Chicken Hat Plays
• Rubber Chicken Theater

Below: Kaylee Matuszak, Chani Ninneman, Tim Sislo at last year's Chicken Hat Plays
• Luke Moravec

Right: Luke Moravec at last year's event

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Rubber Chicken Theater will present eight world-premiere plays, all created in just 24 hours, during its latest go-round of The Chicken Hat Plays. The Chicken Hat Plays will be performed for one day only at the Harbor City International School Theater, located at 332 W. Michigan Street on Saturday, March 24.

The Chicken Hat Plays are an intensively creative day of theater: on Friday night, participants gather together and toss prompts into a “Who Hat”, a “What Hat” and a “Where Hat.” Each of the eight writers then draw prompts and a cast makeup, then goes home to write a ten-minute script that incorporates those elements. On Saturday morning, eight directors and several actors show up, along with the “very tired writers,” said Brian Matuszak, executive producer. The directors then draw their scripts and their casts out of more hats, and the fun begins. The directors and actors rehearse all day, finding whatever props and costumes they can along the way, and at 7 p.m., all eight shows are debuted.

Matuszak added that the Chicken Hat Plays have proven to be very popular with local theater artists. Having taken part are writers, directors and actors from Rubber Chicken Theater, Colder by the Lake, County Seat Theatre, Duluth Playhouse, St. Scholastica, UMD, UWS, Duluth Central, Denfeld, East, Marshall, and Harbor City high school theater and drama departments and other area groups, as well as Twin Cities theater artists.

This unique concept provides artists have the opportunity to create their own brand of original theater, often with unique collaborations that might not have otherwise materialized. “For example,” said Matuszak, “a UWS theatre instructor might direct St. Scholastica theater students, or professional performers from the Twin Cities might come up and get a chance to share some tips with area high school theater students.”

Quick Facts

Who: Rubber Chicken Theater

What: The Chicken Hat Plays

Where: Harbor City International School

Theater, 332 West Michigan Street

When: Saturday, March 24 at 7 p.m.

Tickets: $10 per person

Info: (218)213-2780 or

email Brian@RubberChickenTheater.com

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