Originally published in July 2010.

Finish this sentence: "Theater would be a lot more interesting if there were seven 10-minute plays about ________.”

Boy scouts. Kabuki. Pregnant women. The people behind 14/48: 14 Plays in 48 Hours have heard it all since they launched in 1997. Much like improv comedy, “anything goes, and it’s such a simple process, it’s scary,” says steering committee member and director Andy Jensen. The premise really is simple: Invite local talents (actors, writers, directors) to join in a two-weekend production binge, when participants write, design, rehearse, and ultimately perform 14 original plays in 48 hours (with the help of rotating naps and a keg of beer).

It can be thrilling—and if you’re a 14/48 “virgin” (newcomer), it can be slightly terrifying. Participation comes from luck of the draw. If you’re an actor who can’t sing, you’ll probably be cast in a mini opera. Have a no-nudity clause in your contract? “We know if we tempt the 14/48 gods, it’s going to happen,” Jensen says. “I ended up naked.”

What started as a one-night, one-time-only event has since becomes a two-weekend, twice-annual fest that draws some of the best theatrical talent in town. This weekend’s no exception. (Find the full participant roster here.)

Expect the unexpected. You just might see a Seattle theater veteran like R. Hamilton Wright playing an oversensitive pregnant woman or a teddy bear. It’s happened.

14/48: 14 Plays in 48 Hours is Jan 7 & 8, 14 & 15 at ACT Theatre. For info on tickets, click here.