There are not many people in the world who have braved BRAT's, A 24-Hour THE BALD SOPRANO.  Is there anyone out there who was there for ALL 24 PERFORMANCES??  Until we hear from them, we asked some experts who were "stage side" for each and every show.  THE ALUMNI SPEAK:  

Nathaniel Holt (the Fire Chief, 2007 and 2010)
As an ‘alumnus’ of A 24-Hour THE BALD SOPRANO I can say with absolute certainty that my two (err…48) appearances in the show rank as my #1 and #2 favorite acting experiences of all time, topping even my role as Hamlet as well as some of my high-school roles, when I got to kiss girls for the first time.
Aside from my personal sentiment, A 24-Hour THE BALD SOPRANO is also one of the best theater traditions in Philadelphia. Here are some reasons why:
1. It is a vehicle for young talent to be ‘discovered.’ Several of our alumni have turned into Equity powerhouses in the Philly scene.
2. It is unlike any other show. Audiences are routinely blown away. I have had friends who are not theater fans stay and watch the show for 22 of the 24 hours (and slept in the lobby for the other 2). This was not a favor to me. They were THAT entertained.
3. The show forced me to hone my craft and develop as an actor in ways I never had before. Many in the audience said that the show is perhaps most fascinating as “the most hilarious and gripping acting exercise” they’d ever seen.

Keith Conallen (Mr. Smith/Mr. Martin, 2007)
Doing Brat Productions’ A 24-Hour THE BALD SOPRANO was one of the most empowering and inspirational moments in my career. As an actor you must be prepared emotionally and mentally for the journey taken on stage. The act of acting for 24 hours straight requires that you must be prepared physically as well. Of course, actors need to be physically capable of doing what is required of them on stage. To repeat specific physicalities over a 24 hour period is tougher as your body starts to tire and tense up. I remember being in the last leg of the 24 hour period and feeling like I was going to lose my mind until I started stretching and moving in a completely abnormal way to what we were supposed to be doing in the scene. I loosened up and found a new surge of energy and focus that drove me through til the final performance.
We actors are taught to warm up our bodies before a show, stretching and relaxing. I never took it seriously until realizing how important it is to stay loose as I “lost my mind” on stage. It also created an amazing story that I laugh about every time. It connected my scene partner and I in a way that helped with our connection in another show we just performed in.
Doing Brat Productions’ A 24-Hour THE BALD SOPRANO includes you into a very special club that few can be a part of. Going through such a journey with the small group of artists involved created a unique bond that cannot be matched. There is nothing like it.

Sarah Sanford (Mrs. Smith/Mrs. Martin, 2007)
I wear my A 24-Hour THE BALD SOPRANO experience as a badge of honor. To this day, there is no acting experience in my career that compares. It was theatre as spectator sport, theatre as endurance test, theatre as the most generous thing I could do (i.e., give my best for 24 hours straight). The freedom of play I discovered, once I had jumped gleefully off the cliff of sanity, was exhilarating.

Krista Apple (Mrs. Smith/Mrs. Martin, 2010)
Working on A 24-Hour THE BALD SOPRANO was an important step for me in my professional development – both personally and professionally. Personally, I can honestly say I’ve never worked on a project that was more challenging, or more rewarding. The artistic resources, discipline, and freedom it required were incredible training. And it was an immeasurable ‘showcase’ opportunity as well; it was my first post-MFA professional contract in Philadelphia and gave me invaluable exposure and context as an artist in the community!

Jess Conda (Mary, the Maid, 2010)
A 24 Hour The Bald Soprano is easily one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had as a performer. The piece has its own original voice while still remaining true to the themes that Ionesco was exploring when he wrote it. I think it is clever, thoughtful and hilarious. It picks up right where Ionesco left off and blazes off into the sunset. This piece excels at bringing a unique audience together, not merely to see a play, but to experience a theatrical EVENT. I am proud to be a part of the 24BS legacy and think it is a great piece for Brat to produce regularly as a theater tradition.