Jan. 6, 2005, Findlay, Ohio – Students from The University of Findlay theatre program will test their writing, acting, directing and time management skills with the production of Triage Theatre 2005. The performance will be held Saturday, Jan. 15 at 8 p.m. in the John and Hester Powell Grimm Theatre.

Triage Theatre is a UF tradition in which students write, direct and perform a number of original short plays in just 24- hours. According to Scott Hayes, director of the theatre program, approximately 30 UF students and a group of urban high school students from Brookhaven High School in Columbus will be participating in Triage Theatre 2005.

“This experience is always a lot of fun for everyone involved. Both the students and the audiences really enjoy being involved in this kind of production,” Hayes said. “And because of the very short amount of time they have to put everything together, the format of the production really tests the students’ theatrical skills and their ability to deal with stress and, in some cases, exhaustion.”

The production process will begin with an initial meeting on Jan. 14 from 8 to 9 p.m. during which groups of eight to 12 people will be organized and rules will be explained. Each group will then select someone to write their group’s play, someone to direct and someone to handle the technical aspects of the play. Other members of each group will serve as actors.

During the next 23 hours the groups will write, stage, rehearse and perform their original five to 10 minute shows to the public. As part of the experience, the audience and judges will select one play as the winner, and all winning participants are awarded a cash prize.

Triage Theatre 2005 is a production of Alpha Psi Omega, UF’s honorary theatre fraternity.

Tickets are $5 for general admission, $3 for seniors and students, and free for UF faculty, staff and students with UF identification.

For ticket information, contact the Box Office at 419-434.5335.