New Year's Eve is a terrific time to try out crazy ideas. There's an higher likelihood than usual that your audience is in a good mood and/or tipsy, and even if it goes all pear-shaped, you get to start over with a clean slate at midnight. Enter the actors, writers, and production staff of North Hollywood's Eclectic Company Theatre — and their crazy idea, the One Day Play. We've all seen instant movies and instant sketch theatre before; usually there's some kind of team competition aspect, or maybe elements of chance like drawing cast and genre out of a hat, and the creators then have 24 hours to start and finish their pieces. For the ECT version, there's no competition except the race against the clock — the end product is a single full-length work of stagecraft that debuts 24 hours after its idea is first revealed. With roots in avant-garde and experimental theatre, the ECT also casts a modern eye toward entertaining savvy playwright-loving audiences on this most exuberant of Saturday nights. Go to the early show at 8 p.m. and then hit your parties, or come for the late show at 10 p.m. and stick around to ring in 2012 with the Company. Eclectic Company Theatre, 5312 Laurel Canyon Blvd., N. Hlywd.; Sat., Dec. 31, 8 & 10 p.m.; $12. (818) 508-3003; eclecticcompanytheatre.org.

Sat., Dec. 31, 8 & 10 p.m., 2011

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.