24 HOUR PLAYS to feature Aniston, Dratch, Perez, Wilson

Centenario Tequila, presents a 24 Hour Company Production of THE 6TH ANNUAL 24 HOUR PLAYS ON BROADWAY on Monday, October 23rd at the American Airlines Theatre. To date, participating actors include Emmy Award winner Jennifer Aniston, Elizabeth Berkley (Hurly Burly) "Saturday Night Live"'s Rachel Dratch, Oscar nominee Rosie Perez (Frankie & Johnny), and two-time Tony Award nominee Patrick Wilson (Oklahoma!, The Full Monty). Tickets are available at www.SmartTix.com, (212) 868-4444. THE 24 HOUR PLAYS is an annual benefit event at which entertainment's biggest names join forces to participate in an annual rite of extreme live performance: they will write, direct and perform six original short plays …all in just 24 hours!

The creative process of THE 24 HOUR PLAYS begins at 10PM the night before the show, when a group of six writers, six directors, 24 actors and production staff gather at the American Airlines Theater. After everyone has been briefed, the writers' stay up all night to each compose a ten-minute play. At 7AM the following morning, the directors return, read the plays, and choose their favorites to direct. The casts meet for the first time at 8 am and quickly get to work rehearsing. Tech rehearsal runs from 5:00 to 7:30PM and doors open at 7:45PM. At 8:00PM, ink barely dry, the new plays are performed for a live audience.

Additional casting, playwrights and directors are still TBA. The list of past participating includes Benjamin Bratt, Kate Burton, Billy Crudup, Alan Cumming, Giancarlo Esposito, Adam Goldberg, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Scarlett Johansson, Julianna Margulies, Andrew McCarthy, Matt McGrath, Julianne Moore, Bebe Neuwirth, Anna Paquin, Amanda Peet, Anthony Rapp, Christina Ricci, Sam Rockwell, Liev Schreiber, Ally Sheedy, Ben Shenkman, Brooke Shields, Fisher Stevens, Tracie Thom, Marisa Tomei.

Proceeds from the event benefit Working Playground, a not-for-profit cultural organization thatusesthe artsto educate, inspire and enrich the lives of youth in over 40 underserved New York City schools. Through a dynamic range of programsincluding playwriting, animated video production, instrument building, playwriting, science cartooning andspoken word,Working Playground helps youthdevelop the creative and analytic impulsesthat will serve them as students, professionals and citizens.

About THE 24 HOUR COMPANY

Founded by the creator of The 24 Hour Plays, The 24 Hour Company is the long-standing incarnation of a group of artists and producers that has mounted over 300 short plays since 1995--all written, cast, rehearsed and performed in a single day. Paper Magazine wrote "the quality of the plays is remarkable," and the Village Voice adds, "Here was the energy missing from the Ludlow scene... theatricality as life, as subversion, even survival." The rotating cast and crew of The 24 Hour Plays have performed for sold-out houses at the American Airlines Theater, Atlantic Theater, Minetta Lane Theater, 45 Bleecker Theater, the NY International Fringe Festival and other downtown venues in New York, as well as in Chicago, Los Angeles and London. Participants have included diverse talents from all levels— from Tony, Oscar and Pulitzer Prize winners to emerging talent and high school students.

About WORKING PLAYGROUND, INC.

Working Playground is a not-for-profit cultural organization, founded in 1991, with the belief that art is essential to human development, education and culture. By supporting underserved schools and communities, Working Playground inspires, enlivens, and enriches students' educational experiences with the in-depth study of an art form. Through a dynamic range of programs including playwriting, theatre, film and documentary, animated music video production, instrument building, playwriting, science cartooning, dance performance and spoken word, Working Playground empowers youth to develop the creative and analytic impulses that will serve them as students, professionals and citizens. For the past 15 years, Working Playground has created in-depth partnerships with schools and communities by implementing art programs that help youth better understand essential academic content while exploring new tools to support their social and emotional development. WP's theater, video, visual arts, dance, design, poetry, and music education programs have visited over 40 New York City public schools and engaged more than 30,000 young people, teachers and community members. An emphasis on inquiry-based pedagogy challenges young people to become active learners, eager to exercise critical thinking, leadership and creative skills. As a recipient of a New York State Award of Merit, Working Playground has become a highly respected institution that has been highlighted by The New York Times, New York Magazine, Variety, Time Magazine, Time Out, Rosie O'Donnell Magazine, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, NBC News, CBS This Morning, People Magazine, US Magazine and New York Post.