24 Hour Musical uses theatre arts to benefit the Anderson Free Clinic
Anderson, South Carolina’s 24 Hour Musical took the stage August 9, with a production of “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” at Anderson University’s Belk Theatre. The inaugural event was put together by theatre artists from around the Upstate to raise funds for the Anderson Free Clinic.
Throughout July, local actors submitted audition videos, and the creative team notified those who were cast in the show. The title of the show remained a secret until just 24 hours before showtime. The cast, creative team, and sponsors came together for a kick-off party on August 8 where the show was revealed, and the actors’ roles were announced. Rehearsals began immediately and ran through the night, while teams of volunteers simultaneously located props, made costumes, and built sets.
(Editor’s note: Anderson joins communities around the country in producing a 24-hour theatre event to benefit a local charity. According to the New York Times, the first 24-Hour Musicals event was staged in New York in 2008; its drama-based cousin, the 24-Hour Plays, has been around since 1995.)
Anderson’s 24 Hour Musical was founded earlier this year by Noah and Carlie Taylor. The nonprofit organization seeks to better the local and global communities through theatre arts, while creating unifying, uplifting community experiences and introducing new challenges for theatre artists.
“The 24 Hour Musical came about because we believe that each individual’s specific talents can be used to better our community,” said Noah Taylor, who is also the artistic director of the new organization. “As theatre artists in the Upstate, we felt that there were very few opportunities for us to do that, and that was something we wanted to change! We also felt that there simply were not enough opportunities for people like us to make theatre. We can only grow as artists when we have opportunities to work and explore our craft. We wanted to kick off something new and exciting that young theatre artists, like ourselves, could embrace.”
“You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” was a success, with the theatre filled to capacity just 10 minutes after the doors opened. Admission was free, but donations were accepted. In all, the organization raised $1,530.50, enough to meet the Free Clinic’s one-day operating expenses of $1,451. According to Karen Mauch, the Clinic’s funds development coordinator, in one day at the Anderson Free Clinic:
• 35-40 patients will be seen by one of the Clinic’s medical providers
• 8-10 patients will be seen by a volunteer dentists
• approximately 200 prescriptions will be dispensed
• 2-4 other health care professionals (RNs and medical assistants) will triage patients
• 3-5 students preparing for careers in healthcare professions will gain clinical experience
• 10-15 community volunteers will assist staff with clerical duties and in the pharmacy
• Staff will schedule patient appointments and maintain patient records
“This donation means that for one more day, Free Clinic staff and volunteers will come together to provide care, medications and education to patients that will help them stabilize conditions that have often been ignored,” said Mauch. “The Clinic is also excited to show the community that one does not need to have a healthcare background to help the Free Clinic in their mission to bring healthcare to Anderson’s underserved!”
As for the 24 Hour Musical, the board of directors is already planning for next year’s event. They hope to partner with a different charity every year and continue to impact the Upstate community with the arts. They also look forward to bringing more exciting, unique events to the area, as early as next spring.
To learn more about the 24 Hour Musical, visit www.24hourmusicalsc.org.
Via: 24 Hour Musicals