FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cynthia Nixon, Cobie Smulders, Lauren Speed Hamilton, Michael Urie And More Join Special Directors Cut Edition Of The 24 Hour Plays: Viral Monologues
Available tonight at https://24hourplays.com/viral-monologues/
and on IGTV @24hourplays
NEW YORK (May 19, 2020) – The 24 Hour Plays: Viral Monologues adds an exciting new twist with tonight’s special edition: Directors’ Cut, airing on IGTV @24hourplays and at https://24hourplays.com/viral-monologues/. Through a special collaboration with director Leigh Silverman, the 2016 recipient of The 24 Hour Plays Artistic Inspiration Award, 21 theater directors have each been paired with a single collaborator to craft unique pieces for the ninth edition of the Viral Monologues. From 6 PM until midnight, the new monologues will be published, one every 15 minutes.
Directors being spotlighted this week include Zi Alikhan, Jake Beckhard, Adrienne Campbell-Holt, Sammi Cannold, Carolyn Cantor, Matt Dickson, Sean Daniels, Timothy Douglas, Gordon Greenberg, Kristin Hanggi, Raja Feather Kelly, Patricia McGregor, Molly Beach Murphy, Cynthia Nixon, Taylor Reynolds, Colette Robert, Leigh Silverman, Danya Taymor, GT Upchurch, Michael Urie, and Mia Walker. Their cohort of collaborators include Todd Almond, Lemon Andersen, Heidi Armbruster, Maddie Corman, Eisa Davis, Kristoffer Diaz, Veronika Duerr, Ari Graynor, Kate Hamill, Lauren Speed Hamilton, Danny Hoch, Lovell Holder, Lily Houghton, Zoe Lister Jones, David Lindsay-Abaire, Ted Malawer, Cat Miller, Talene Monahan, Christopher Oscar Peña, Noah Robbins, Cobie Smulders, and Ryan Spahn.
“I have always felt a deep connection to The 24 Hour Plays — their ambition, sense of fun and dedication to charitable work,” said Leigh Silverman. “However, in the last two months, I have been blown away watching them adapt their signature insta-theater into streaming content to unite our isolated creative community. With today’s announcement, The 24 Hour Plays are transforming once again to spotlight theater directors taking part in the inspired world of their Viral Monologues.”
“I have been a theater director for my entire adult life,” said The 24 Hour Plays artistic director Mark Armstrong. “Theater directing is a singular, important art form to which American artists have made indelible contributions. I’m thrilled to have worked with our friend Leigh Silverman to bring so many of those greats to our series this week.”
Last night, all participants shared brief orientation-style videos to allow The 24 Hour Plays team to get to know them better. By 6 PM, teams of two collaborators each were made – writer-types will work with non-writers, and actors were assigned to directors. Writers worked on their monologues through the night, and the non-writers of each pair received their monologues this morning at 10 AM. After the teams make edits together, actors will film their performances throughout the day, and at 6 PM their videos begin to be released to the world, completing the 24-hour cycle.
The 24 Hour Plays: Viral Monologues are produced by Coleman Ray Clark and Madelyn Paquette. The artistic director of The 24 Hour Plays is Mark Armstrong.
The 24 Hour Plays are known for their work on Broadway, off-Broadway and around the world. Since 1995, their events have brought together extraordinary artists to create time-limited theater. Past participants including Jennifer Aniston, Laverne Cox, Billy Crudup, David Cross, Rosario Dawson, Daveed Diggs, Peter Dinklage, Rachel Dratch, Jesse Eisenberg, Edie Falco, America Ferrera, Greta Gerwig, Oscar Isaac, John Krasinski, Anthony Mackie, Julianne Moore, Tracy Morgan, Cynthia Nixon, Anna Paquin, Rosie Perez, Phylicia Rashad, Chris Rock, Sam Rockwell, Liev Schreiber, Amanda Seyfried, Michael Shannon, Gabourey Sidibe, Sarah Silverman, Marisa Tomei, Naomi Watts and more!
More information for those who would like to support The 24 Hour Plays or attend a live performance in the future is available at https://24hourplays.com.
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ABOUT THE 24 HOUR PLAYS®
The 24 Hour Plays® bring together creative communities to produce plays and musicals that are written, rehearsed, and performed in 24 hours. In addition to The 24 Hour Plays on Broadway and The 24 Hour Musicals in New York City, events take place in London, Los Angeles, Dublin, Minneapolis, San Francisco, Germany, Athens, Finland, Mexico City, Florence and Denmark. Through collaborations with the Lymphatic Education & Research Network (LE&RN), The Lillys, Dublin Youth Theatre, Urban ArtsPartnership, The Old Vic Theatre, Atlantic Theater Company, Roundabout Theatre, Bennington College, University of MN-Duluth, Hennepin Theatre Trust, Cornerstone Theater Company, PlayGround, Rakastajat-teatteri, El77 Centro Cultural Autogestivo, The Orchard Project, The Del Sole Foundation and others, The 24 Hour Plays have raised millions of dollars for charities.
Each summer, The 24 Hour Plays: Nationals partner with the New School for Drama to bring together the best young actors, directors, playwrights and producers for a free professional intensive that culminates in their own production of The 24 Hour Plays. Licensed affiliates have produced their own versions of The 24 Hour Plays in regional and professional theaters, colleges and universities, and just about everywhere you can find a curtain and a stage.
Twitter/Instagram: @24hourplays
PRESS CONTACT:
Shawn Purdy / Mariena Wise – SLATE PR
Phone: (212) 235-6813
Email: shawn@slate-pr.com / mariena@slate-pr.com
