Stars Get Ready for The 24 Hour Plays on 9/13

The 24 Hour Plays will once again come to Broadway this September. The evening--which is composed of six plays that are written, cast, rehearsed and performed in a single day--will take place on September 13 at the American Airlines Theatre. Actors confirmed for the event include Billy Crudup, Mos Def, Rachel Dratch, Gaby Hoffmann, Catherine Kellner, Matthew Lillard, Anthony Mackie, Julianna Margulies, Amanda Peet, Rosie Perez, John C. Reilly, Sam Rockwell, Brooke Shields, Brooke Smith, Fisher Stevens and Lili Taylor. Participating writers include Jeff Whitty and Julia Jordan. Nick Philipou and Frank Pugliese will direct the pieces.

The creative process for The 24 Hour Plays will begin at around 10pm on Sunday, September 12, when a group of six writers, six directors, 24 actors and a production staff will gather at the theater to be briefed. The writers will remain for the night at the W Hotel Times Square and each will create a 10-minute play. At 7am on September 13, 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 from 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. In 2002 the event was part of the larger Brave New World Theater & Arts Marathon. Last year's benefit was the first one to take place on Broadway.

The 24 Hour Plays--presented by Details Magazine, Bloomingdale's 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. In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, Working Playground, Inc. was funded by Planet Impact and The 24 Hour Company to provide "Art of Recovery" programs to schools in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens which suffered great emotional loss and daily upheavals as a result of the attacks and their aftermath.

Benefit tickets to The 24 Hour Plays cost $125 and $250 for one of 50 VIP tickets, which includes an after-party with the cast and can be purchased by calling 212 868-4444.