Montblanc and Urban Arts Partnership presented the highly anticipated return of THE 24 HOUR PLAYS, now in its third year in Los Angeles, on Saturday, June 22, 2013 at the Broad Stage Theater in Santa Monica.
Hollywood’s finest joined forces to participate in this one-night-only live performance, produced by Kevin Chinoy and Francesca Silvestri of the Freestyle Picture Company and the 24 Hour Company. The entire creative process, from writing to directing and performing took place in just 24 hours.
This year, the 24 Hour Plays featured actors, writers and directors such as Sasha Alexander (Rizzoli & Isles), Skylar Astin (Pitch Perfect), Samantha Barks (Les Miserables), Jason Biggs (American Reunion), Anna Camp (True Blood), John Cho (Star Trek), Jamie Chung (The Hangover Part II), Michael Ealy (The Good Wife), Ashley Fink (Glee), Seth Green (Family Guy), Melanie Griffith (Working Girl), Ian Harding (Pretty Little Liars), John Hawkes (Winter’s Bone), Gillian Jacobs (Community), David Krumholtz (This Is the End), Jack McBrayer (30 Rock), Rosie Perez (Artistic Board Chair), Lucy Punch (Bad Teacher), Romy Rosemont (Glee), Hannah Simone (New Girl), Alia Shawkat (Arrested Development), Molly Sims (Project Accessory), Eddie Kaye Thomas (American Pie), Tracie Thoms (Looper) and Wilmer Valderrama (That 70’s Show).
Writers who took part included Rachel Axler (Emmy winner for Daily Show, New Girl, Parks and Recreation), Ben Karlin (Emmy Award Winner for Colbert Report, Modern Family, A.C.O.D), Will McCormack (Celeste and Jesse Forever, Frenemy of the State), Bill Wrubel (Modern Family, Will & Grace), Jennifer Crittenden (Arrested Development, The New Adventures of Old Christine), Jennifer Bicks (Emmy Winner for Sex & The City) and Gabrielle Allan (Scrubs, What’s Your Number?).
Directors who took part included Ryan Case (Modern Family), Peter Ellenstein (Artistic Director of the Inge Festival), Andy Fickman (Parental Guidance), Leigh Kilton Smith (Acting Coach to the stars), Julie Anne Robinson (Weeds) and Fred Savage (Party Down, Modern Family). The cast was joined onstage with special musical guests Andy Davis, a Nashville based singer and guitarist who released the album Heartbreak Yellow in 2012 and Lindsey Ray, an eclectic singer and song- writer who wrote “Almost Home,” which was performed by Mariah Carey and featured in the movie Oz, The Great and Powerful.
The creative process of THE 24 HOUR PLAYS in Los Angeles began at 10:00 p.m. on Friday, June 21, 2013 when six writers, six directors, twenty-four actors, and a dedicated production team meet at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica. After the community of artists shared a costume, a prop, his or her special skills set, each writer composed a ten-minute play by 7 a.m. the following morning. By 9 a.m. directors selected their pieces and their cast rehearsed over the course of the day. At 8:00 p.m, ink barely dry, the six new plays – interspersed with musical acts – were performed before a live audience. This celebration of theater offered Los Angeles’ audience a rare experience to witness the thrill of live theater and the talents of Hollywood’s brightest stars.
This is the seventh year that Montblanc, the international luxury brand, has supported THE 24 HOUR PLAYS BENEFITS FOR URBAN ARTS PARTNERSHIP, demonstrating their support of Arts and Culture. Their ongoing commitment to fostering emerging talent came to life when Montblanc held its 1st annual Young Auditioner’s Program on May 8, 2013, where Urban Arts’ students had the opportunity to compete for a chance to act in one of the 24 Hour Plays. The two winners of the audition, 16 year-old Emmanuel De Los Santos and 17 year-old Cadesha Oliver, joined the cast in performing the plays.
“The 3rd annual production of The 24-Hour Plays in Los Angeles, presented by Montblanc, is a testament to the remarkable impact our partnership with Urban Arts has made on the Los Angeles community,” said Jan-Patrick Schmitz, President and CEO of Montblanc North America. “In less than three years, we can proudly say we have enhanced the classroom experience for 1300 students across nine schools in the L.A. Unified School District.”
Over the years, Montblanc has helped to raise over 2 million dollars for Urban Arts Partnership in New York City and Los Angeles. Urban Arts Los Angeles partners with the L.A. Unified School District to help fulfill its Arts at the Core mission by integrating visual art and digital media into core academic subjects.
The professional development program model focuses on the capacity of teachers to facilitate lessons that incorporate both artistic and common core standards.
All proceeds from Saturday’s event will benefit Urban Arts Partnership, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the intellectual, social and artistic development of underserved public school students through arts-integrated education programs to close the achievement gap.
