Without the luxury of time to prepare their work, participants in this year’s Players’ Club Shotgun Theatre tradition were challenged to brainstorm ideas, write, direct and construct performances for the debut of 10-minute scenes – all under 48 hours.

Since fall 2005, SF State’s Players’ Club has been hosting Shotgun Theatre, a two-day challenge in which student directors are given 24 hours to write theatrical scenes and another 24 hours to rehearse with actors for their assigned scene topics. The final skits were showcased in the Studio Theatre on Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. with free admission.

The president of the Players’ Club originally suggested the idea for Shotgun Theatre four years ago as a way to raise funds for the club’s student-directed shows. Although Shotgun Theatre was originally created as a way to raise money, it grew into a chance for students to write, direct and act on the spot. Since its conception, the event has become increasingly popular. This year, eight directors and 28 actors participated in the event.

Neil Higgins, one of the co-activities coordinators for the Players’ Club, participated in Shotgun Theatre as an actor in the fall 2005 and spring 2006 challenges. Higgins, who helped host and organize the event this year, said each of the student directors had to draw a number between one and six to be given their scene assignments. The assigned scenes, which were created by the Players’ Club coordinators, called for topics like county jail, floods and Medieval Times. Furthermore, the student directors did not know the actors or the actors’ genders prior to the 48-hour challenge.

“Part of the challenge is that [both the student directors and actors] don’t know anything [about their scenes] going into it,” Higgins said. “The only thing that they’re aware of is that they’re going to be in the Studio Theatre [with] the constraint of making a 10-minute scene.”

Higgins said that since the actors are given their lines one night before the actual showcase, the event is “absolutely insane.” However, he said that although the scene preparations are intense and a lot of work, it always turns out to be a lot of fun.

“Everyone obviously has a crazy adrenaline rush the whole time,” Higgins said. “The energy is really high, and everyone is really excited about being a part of it. Because of this, I’ve seen a lot of amazing performances come out of [Shotgun Theatre].”

Molly Wixson, one of the student directors, got the scene “County Jail” and directed a scene with six actors that poke fun at this year’s presidential election. She said her favorite part of Shotgun Theatre is working with new people and exploring new ways of composing scenes with creative freedom.

“It’s very exciting,” Wixson said. “Of course it’s not perfect, and a little stressful. It’s kind of a win-lose situation, just because you have so much freedom.”

Robb Siminoski, another student director, received the assignment of “World’s Most Delicious Cookie.” He said the hardest part of the challenge was coming up with ideas to build around the skit and writing the lines of the script.

“It’s always crazy,” Siminoski said. “It seems very disorganized at the beginning, and then it comes together.”

At Saturday night’s show, more than 50 guests came to the Studio Theatre to see the final skits. The audience especially responded to the “The Bus Depot,” a comedic scene about three pigeons and a seagull at the bus depot. The overall tones of the skits were comedic, though there were a few dramatic moments, Higgins said.

“Seeing your words being performed and seeing people respond to them—I don’t have children, but I think it’s like watching your children being born,” Siminoski said.