The 24 Hour Plays Set for October 24 at the American Airlines Theatre

The 24 Hour Plays is coming back to Broadway. The evening--which is composed of six plays that are written, cast, rehearsed and performed in a single day--will take place on October 24 at the American Airlines Theatre. Confirmed artists include 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.

The creative process for The 24 Hour Plays will begin at around 10pm on Sunday, October 23, when a group of six writers including David Lindsay-Abaire, Dael Orlandersmith and Warren Leight, six directors, 24 actors and a production staff will gather at the theater to be briefed. The writers will remain for the night at a nearby hotel and each will create a 10-minute play. At 7am on October 24, the directors will return, read the plays, and cast them. The casts will meet for the first time at 8am and begin learning the material. A single technical rehearsal will occur between 5pm to 7:30pm. The curtain is at 8pm.

The first benefit performance of The 24 Hour Plays took place at the Minetta Lane Theatre on September 24, 2001 and quickly sold-out. The 24 Hour Plays--presented in 2005 by Glamour Magazine, Lycra and Moxie Pictures in association with The 24 Hour Company and Planet Impact--benefits Working Playground, a not-for-profit cultural organization that provides arts programs in public schools. This year, 20 percent of the ticket price for the event will also be devoted to a special program designed to help Katrina-affected children and their families.

Tickets to The 24 Hour Plays cost $125 or $250 which includes a pass to the post-show cast party and can be purchased by calling 212 868-4444.