About
In the span of 48 hours, 14 new plays are written, cast, directed, rehearsed, scored, designed, & premiered. The festival kicks off with the selection of a theme the night before, and seven writers each write a 10-minute play based on the randomly drawn theme. The plays are then drawn at random by seven directors who cast their plays by randomly drawing the names of actors from the Actor Roster. Directors meet with musicians from the 14/48 Band and designers from the 14/48 Design Team to create the worlds of each play on stage. Each play undergoes a quick tech rehearsal with our stage crew before it is performed for audiences at 7:30 PM and 9:30 PM. The whole process repeats itself the next day, producing 14 new plays in 48 hours.
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14/48 Hollywood cultivates a supportive community for radical artistic collaboration, forging new connections between artists and audiences. Learn more about our Festival Timeline, Producing Committee & Invitations Committee below.
Festival Timeline
In the span of 48 hours, 14 plays are written, cast, directed, rehearsed, scored, designed, & premiered...but how does it all work? To get an idea take a look at our festival's timeline.
Thursday Night
All festival participants are called to an introductory meeting, in person or on zoom. During the meeting, the theme is pulled from a list of ideas proposed anonymously by 14/48 Hollywood participants. Ex: “Theater would be a lot more interesting if there were seven ten-minute plays about _____.” One answer is chosen at random and that becomes the theme for the following evening. Writers are tasked to write a brand new 10-minute play based on the theme by 8:00 AM, Friday morning. The writers are given an order number for their play and allotted size of cast.
Friday Morning
Friday Until the Show
After the first batch of plays are received, writers & directors meet in the space for the directors to pull a play at random. The directors then have the opportunity to discuss their chosen play with the playwright. An hour later, actors arrive and the draw happens again, this time with the directors drawing actors' names to assemble their casts.
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After the first batch of plays are received, writers & directors meet in the space for the directors to pull a play at random. The directors then have the opportunity to discuss their chosen play with the playwright. An hour later, actors arrive and the draw happens again, this time with the directors drawing actors' names to assemble their casts.
The seven casts separate to rehearse as the musicians and designers are called to the venue. Musicians spend the day coordinating with the directors to create intro songs, transitions, and cues and for each play. Simultaneously, designers coordinate with directors to create any and all costumes, set pieces, & props for all seven shows.​
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Starting around midday, each show gets 20 minutes to tech for lighting cues. The rest of the time is spent rehearsing and getting ready for the evening's shows!
Friday Evening
At 7:30 PM the seven world premier plays are performed for the first time. At this performance, audience members are invited to submit any idea for a theme for the Saturday's shows! This theme is pulled after the curtain call for first show, and the writers are sent off again to write seven more brand new plays to premiere the following evening. At 9:30 PM, the show is performed all over again.
Saturday Until the Show
Saturday morning and afternoon follows the same structure as Friday with seven brand plays based on the new theme.
Saturday Evening
At 7:30 PM the seven world premier plays are performed for the first time. At 9:30 PM, the show is performed all over again with a final bow and the final curtain call for the festival!
The Producing Committee
At 14/48 Hollywood, our talented and diverse team is the backbone of our productions. Our team includes actors, directors, designers and other tech-savvy creatives who all share our passion for theatre. Meet the team and feel the energy on stage.
Benjamin McFadden
Artistic Director • he/him
Benjamin (he/him) is a founding member of 14/48 Hollywood and a multi-hyphenated theatre artist. As an actor, he has appeared on numerous stages and screens, and his original adaptation of The Time Machine by H.G. Wells premiered at the Hollywood Fringe Festival in 2025 to wide acclaim. The production received four award nominations, including Best Drama and World Premiere. Ben holds a BFA from Cornish College of the Arts, a directing certificate from Yale University, and is currently pursuing an MA in Theatre Education at the University of Northern Colorado. Follow me @RunBeeMc
Charissa J. Adams
Managing Director • she/her
As one of the original founding members, Charissa J. Adams is thrilled to serve as the Managing Director of 14/48 Hollywood. Charissa is a Seattle and LA based actor, theatre-maker, and creator of Fractured Shakespeare™, who has expanded her focus to include theatre administration as Institutional Giving Officer for Seattle Children’s Theatre. With a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Washington, she uses her organizational and fundraising skills, theatre experience, and passion for collaboration to grow 14/48 Hollywood and deepen its impact in the community.
Charles Norris
Company Manager • he/him
A graduate of Cornish College of the Arts, Charles is a proud working actor and producer. After years of appearing on Seattle stages, he is now based in Los Angeles, CA, where he’s been working commercially and theatrically the past 8 years.
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Instagram: black_chucknorris
Heather Hawkins
Director of Outreach • she/her
After 30 years working as an actor, director, and teaching artist in Seattle-Heather and her family relocated to LA during Covid. Heather’s work has been seen at Seattle Shakespeare Company, Village Theater, Arts West, Taproot Theater, Intiman, ACT, 14/48 Productions , and Book-It Theater. She is the recipient of several Seattle Times Footlight Awards for excellence in acting and was nominated for a best actress Gregory Award for her work as Corrine in Gideon’s Knot at Seattle Public Theater.
Mara Palma
Director of Marketing • she/her
Mara is a director, playwright, and creative youth educator currently based in the Los Angeles area. Recent highlights as a director and associate/assistant director include Disney THE TALE OF MOANA (Disney Cruise Lines), GREASE and THE LARAMIE PROJECT (Blurred Vision Theatre Company / Culver AVPA). Upcoming directing: AREA CODE by K. Evans (AnyWay Productions Company). Mara's WHY is to help people connect to their Inner Child, so that they can live the highest versions of themselves. Proud Wellesley College graduate! www.marapalma.com
Ben Burris
Invitation Committee Chair • he/him
Ben is an award winning actor/puppeteer/creator and a graduate of Cornish College of the Arts. He is an LA native, veteran designer of 14/48 Hollywood and veteran actor of 14/48 Seattle. Ben recently designed, built and directed the puppetry for an adaptation of H.G. Well's The Time Machine, written and directed by Benjamin McFadden for the 2025 Hollywood Fringe Festival. Stay tuned for the short film Outgrowth, featuring Ben.
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Instagram: benhere_benthere
Invitations Committee
Artist involvement in 14/48 Hollywood is a volunteer-based invitations process only. To help foster an environment of community instead of competition, we do not hold auditions. Invitations come from the Invitations Committee, a group of local artists and 14/48 Veterans who strive to create an inclusive roster comprised of 80% new "rookie" artists each festival.
Nichole Elise
She/Her/Hers
Nichole (aka Nicky) is delighted to be a veteran this time around with 14/48 & happy to be serving on the Invitations Committee. Earning her BFA, Nicky comes from a background & experience primarily in movement & physical performance in Theatre as well as TV/Film/Animation worlds in tandem with logistics & operations.
Rhiannon Brady
He/She/They
Rhiannon is so excited to be back for 14/48, and to be helping out on the other side of the casting table this go-round. This festival is one of their highlights of the year, so they feel blessed to help share that joy with all the new artists joining us this year!
Shannon Corbeil
She/Her
Shannon Corbeil is an Air Force veteran, actor (SEAL TEAM, THE ROOKIE), and writer selected as a 2023 Disney TV Writing Fellowship Finalist. She is a Veteran Writer and Actor of 14/48 Hollywood and her award-winning comedic play NAPOLEON’S WH*RE SISTER premiered at the 2025 Hollywood Fringe Festival.
Mara Palma
she/her
Mara is a director, playwright, and creative youth educator currently based in the Los Angeles area. Recent highlights as a director and associate/assistant director include Disney THE TALE OF MOANA (Disney Cruise Lines), GREASE and THE LARAMIE PROJECT (Blurred Vision Theatre Company / Culver AVPA). Upcoming directing: AREA CODE by K. Evans (AnyWay Productions Company). Mara's WHY is to help people connect to their Inner Child, so that they can live the highest versions of themselves. Proud Wellesley College graduate! www.marapalma.com
Ben Burris
Invitation Committee Chair • he/him
Ben is an award winning actor/puppeteer/creator and a graduate of Cornish College of the Arts. He is an LA native, veteran designer of 14/48 Hollywood and veteran actor of 14/48 Seattle. Ben recently designed, built and directed the puppetry for an adaptation of H.G. Well's The Time Machine, written and directed by Benjamin McFadden for the 2025 Hollywood Fringe Festival. Stay tuned for the short film Outgrowth, featuring Ben.
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Instagram: benhere_benthere