Montblanc and Urban Arts Partnership hosted their 2nd annual Young Auditioners Program at ArTES High School to prepare for the upcoming 24 Hour Plays. 24 Hour Plays are literally created in 24 hours. The creative process of will begin at 10 pm on Thursday, June 19, 2014 when six writers, six directors, twenty-four actors, and a production team meet at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica. After the community of artists share a costume, a prop, his or her special skill set, each writer will compose a ten-minute play by 7 am the following morning. By 9 am, directors will have selected their pieces and their cast will rehearse over the course of the day. At 8 pm, the six new plays (with musical acts) will be performed before a live audience.
Twenty theater students auditioned and were judged by a panel of 24 Hour Plays participants which included Ashley Fink (Glee), Tracie Thoms (Annie), Michael Ealy (Almost Human) and Gillian Jacobs (Community). The panel picked two senior student, Alexia Cardenas and Oskar Guzman, who will joining a roster of celebrity participants to perform during the 24 Hour Plays on June 20th at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica.
Later in the evening, I attended the annual Announcement Party hosted by Montblanc and Urban Arts Partnership at the Montblanc boutique in the Beverly Center. This is the eighth year that Montblanc has supported the 24 hour Plays Benefits for Urban Arts Partnership. This year’s 24 Hour Plays cast was announced and includes Alanis Morissette, Alicia Witt, Andra Day, Anna Camp , Amaury Nolasco, Ashley Fink, Constance Zimmer, David Krumholtz, Danny Pudi, Gavin Rossdale, Gillian Jacobs, Jason Ritter, John Cho, Jon Heder, Judy Greer, Karen Gillan, Kelly Osbourne , Michael Ealy , Michelle Trachtenberg, Ramon Rodriguez, Retta, Rosie Perez, Sasha Alexander, Seth Green, Skylar Astin, Tracie Thoms and Wilmer Valderrama.
Tickets are already on sale here.
