Perez, Taylor and Others Pitch In with 24 Hour Plays, October 24

Film and theatre luminaries will race around the clock to create theatre in The 24 Hour Plays on October 24th. The one-day event will be held at the American Airlines Theatre on Broadway.

So far, performers Amanda Peet, Rosie Perez, Ben Shenkman, Lili Taylor, Jesse Eisenberg, Maria Bello, Anthony Mackie, Kerry Washington, Fisher Stevens, Rachel Dratch, John G. Connolly and Tracie Thoms, as well as playwrights such as David Lindsay-Abaire (Fuddy Meers), Dael Orlandersmith (Yellowman) and Warren Leight (Side Man), have signed on the participate in The 24 Hour Plays.

The process consists of 24 actors, 6 writers, 6 directors and a production staff who compress the normal writing, casting and staging procedures into just one day. On Sunday, October 23rd at 10 PM, the artists involved will meet at the theatre before the writers take off for a hotel to pen 6 10-minute plays the same night. On October 24th at 7 AM, the directors will come to the theatre and cast the plays that they read, with the cast going into rehearsal at 8 AM. A tech rehearsal will be held from 5 PM to 7:30 PM before the play goes up at 8 PM.

Proceeds from the 2005 production of The 24 Hour Plays will go to Working Playground, a not-for-profit cultural organization that "brings the arts to children and school communities that are lacking the opportunity and resources to study an art form." In addition, twenty percent of the ticket price for the event will also be donated to a special program that will aid victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The 24 Hour Plays have become an increasing presence in the theatre world, with the first benefit having debuted at the Minetta Lane Theatre on September 24, 2001 (though the 24 Hour Company had been putting on the short plays since 1995). The plays have even crossed the pond; Brooke Shields, Gael Garcia Bernal and others appeared in a 24 Hour Plays at the Old Vic this June. This year's 24 Hour Plays will be presented by Glamour Magazine, Lycra and Moxie Pictures in association with The 24 Hour Company and Planet Impact.

Tickets to The 24 Hour Plays are $125 or $250, with the latter tag allowing access to the post-show cast party. They are available by calling (212) 868-4444.

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