Play in a Day

Play In A Day

Feb 28

Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave.

8pm

In 24 hours, 6 professional Washington DC area theatre companies write, direct, rehearse & perform original plays!

Six professional Washington, D.C. area theatre companies will write, direct, rehearse and perform original plays based on similar themes in only 24 hours. The plays will be presented at the 16th annual Play In A Day, a one-of-a-kind theatrical event.

Play In A Day kicks off on Friday evening, February 27th where playwrights and directors come together to receive their assigned themes and props. Playwrights then work through the night to create their ten-minute masterpieces. As the sun comes up, rehearsals begin as teams of directors and actors prepare anxiously to make the 8pm performance deadline on Saturday, February 28, 2026.

* Please note, some material is not suitable for children.

2026 Theatres

Adventure Theatre MTC, Glen Echo, MD

Adventure Theatre MTC is Washington DC’s longest running organization that educates and inspires new generations of theatre artists with exceptional theatrical experiences. Adventure Theatre MTC is the pre-eminent Theater Academy for youth in the Washington, D.C. region with an integrated and nationally renowned high-quality professional theater for family audiences.

Flying V, Bethesda, MD

Flying V creates theatre that invigorates and inspires people to live life with a greater sense of appreciation and adventure. Flying V bridges the gap between pop culture and high culture, and are dedicated to the creation, development, and production of vibrant original work, offbeat contemporary plays, and performance art inspired by genre fiction and other modern mythologies.

The Keegan Theatre, Washington, D.C.

The Keegan Theatre produces powerful plays and musicals offered to the community at affordable prices. Keegan’s work is fueled by the highest caliber acting and design, scripts that show people on life’s stark edges and a directing approach that honors authentic storytelling.

Olney Theatre, Olney, MD

Olney Theatre Center presents and produces a diverse array of productions that enrich, nurture and unleash the creative potential of a broad range of artists, audiences and students. Its programming inspires and educates the next generation of theatre makers.

Rorschach Theatre, Washington, D.C.

Rorschach Theatre tells stories that allow for innovative design and visceral performances. The company treats productions as “installations” that surround the audience with the world of a play. The work centers on the intersection of magic or impossible moments and everyday human experiences. Without proselytizing, it provides a complex, intellectual catalyst for self-exploration of challenging subjects.

We Happy Few, Washington, D.C.

We Happy Few is dedicated to renewing, reimagining, and revitalizing classic stories for a modern world. Through a commitment to collaborative storytelling, WHF’s productions are fresh and imaginative. We Happy Few approaches classics from a place of “reverent irreverence” allowing for play, exploration, and joy alongside integrity, care and clarity.

Tickets

Tickets are $20 each. All ticket sales are final. There are no refunds. Tickets can be picked up at Will Call beginning at 7pm on February 28, 2026.