BETHESDA, MD — Six professional D.C. area theater companies will write, direct, rehearse and perform original plays based on similar themes in only 24 hours.

Produced by the Bethesda Urban Partnership and Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District, “Play in a Day” will be held on Saturday, March 2 at 8 p.m. at Imagination Stage at 4908 Auburn Avenue in downtown Bethesda.

“Play In A Day” kicks off on Friday evening, March 1, when playwrights and directors come together to receive their assigned themes and props. Playwrights then work through the night to create their 10-minute plays. Rehearsals will begin Saturday morning.

Participating theater companies include Adventure Theatre MTC (Glen Echo); Flying V (Bethesda); Imagination Stage (Bethesda); The Keegan Theatre (Washington, D.C.); Olney Theatre (Olney) and We Happy Few (Washington, D.C.).

General admission tickets are $18 and can be purchased online at www.bethesda.org. Remaining tickets will be sold at the door beginning at 7pm. Parking is available next door in the Auburn Avenue/Del Ray Avenue public garage.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the theater companies that are selected for Best Writing, Best Direction, and Best Acting Ensemble. These prizes will be awarded by this year’s accredited judges: Quique Aviles, poet, performer and Theatre Lab instructor; and Nancy Bannon, performer, writer, director and American University, Department of Performing Arts.