JustArts: How did you get involved with the 24-hour musical? Julie Stein: I am very involved in theater around Brandeis-I am the president of Tympanium Euphorium-and I had been a part of two 24-hour musicals before. Andrew, who is a good friend of mine as well as another part of our E-Board, asked me to hop on board with him our senior year, and I was extremely enthusiastic about it.

Andrew Litwin: I always knew the project existed and thought it was really cool. Unfortunately I was away for the weekend it went up Freshmen year but I made it back to see it. It looked like so much fun that I promised myself I wouldn't miss another one. I auditioned and was in the cast Sophomore year (Spamalot) before making the move to the production staff as one of the Musical Directors my Junior year (Legally Blonde) and finally to heading the project and directing this year.

JA: Have you participated in the past and if so what has been the difference for you between just participating and directing?

JS: I started Brandeis as a midyear, so I missed my freshman year 24-hour. As a sophomore, however, I knew I wanted to participate in the 24-hour because I had heard only amazing things about it. That year was Spamalot-kah, and I had a blast. Directing is incredibly different from participating for a million reasons ... a) I had learned what works and what doesn't, so it is up to us to create a system that is the most effective and the least stressful for everyone, b) I was awake for the full 24 hrs!, c) I got to help choose the show, cast, etc, d) I have learned the show so well that I can sing it in my sleep.

AL: Being in the show is an amazing experience; one that I encourage anyone who likes any type of performance to try at least once. However, that being said, there really is something special about directing a project like this. First off, just like any type of directing, you get to have a hand in the entire show and it's amazing seeing your vision come to life and the fact that NONE of it existed 24 hours prior to watching it is an incredible feeling. This kind of thing is not easy. We ask A LOT out of everyone who is working on this project and to sit in the audience and watch everyone come on stage and shine, take initiative and put on an amazing show is really overwhelming.

JA: How did you decide on what play you chose for this year?

JS: We like to do comedies, because they're so much fun, and there's a ton of room to play around with them without insulting the show itself. We also look for shows that people will be excited about, that are currently on or recently left Broadway, and that have a large cast where we can get...many people involved.

AL: Picking the show is actually a very delicate proposition. We want to pick a show that people know and will be excited about working on and coming to see. The show needs to be able to accommodate large amounts of people (because we don't cut) and needs to be a show that can take the hits that come along with a 24-hour rehearsal period and still keep the comedy going and the energy up. In Shrek we found everything we needed. Everyone knows and likes this story already. Within the show we found 3 big areas where people could be in a chorus but still feel involved. We really wanted to give everyone a chance to shine and have their moment and I think we accomplished that. Also, the music is great and so much fun and we would be able to do it justice even in just 24 hours.

JA: Have you always been interested in theatrs? Do you have anything else planned for production on campus?

JS: Yes, I've always been interested in theater. I'm usually on stage, but I definitely enjoy backstage as well. I'm a senior, and this is my first chance to direct here at Brandeis, and I couldn't be happier. Tymp is putting on Wild Party this semester, and I also need to start thinking about my senior project, as well as Tymp's spring musical and Brandeis Cares (a fundraiser we put together to raise money for Brandeis Cares/Equity Fights AIDS).

AL: Theater has always been a passion/hobby of mine and I'm really glad I got to continue it in college especially with a project like this. This semester I am also producing the Tymp production of The Wild Party, as well as being involved with the production of a few other projects going up around the school.

Overall I just wanted to add that I think this project is one of the most amazing things Brandeis does and I am beyond honored to have been at the head of it for a year. It really keeps getting better and better and that wouldn't happen without the people here who work on it with the amount of passion that they do. This includes the amazing cast of people who came to audition and the unbelievable crew who were just phenomenal and so great to work with.