The concept ranks alongside the recent "72-Hour Film Competition" in the Too-Busy-for-Culture- Give-It-to-Me-in-a-Hurry Hall of Fame. The first annual Double Shot Theatre Festival takes 12 playwrights, 12 directors, one choreographer, one composer and some 40 actors, then gives them a mere 48 hours to write, rehearse, and stage 12 new original plays. Not even George Bernard Shaw worked this fast. The 12 plays unfold in a leisurely two hours, twice, Friday and Saturday night, so you don't have to sweat â€" they do. The festival is a partnership between the Northwest Playwright’s Alliance and the University of Puget Sound.  Neat. â€" Suzy Stump

[McIntyre Hall, May 18-19, 7 and 9 p.m., $8-$10, 1500 N. Warner, Tacoma, 253.879.3419]