NEW YORK CITY: The 24 Hour Plays on Broadway will honor director Leigh Silverman at its 2016 gala, which will be held on Nov. 14. Silverman, who is currently directing the New Group’s revival of Sweet Charity, will receive the Artistic Inspiration Award at the event.
“Leigh Silverman is one of the great theatre artists of my generation,” said Mark Armstrong, executive director of the 24 Hour Plays, in a statement. “Her work demonstrates something that we emphasize with the young artists who participate in our programs, which is that building strong, vibrant creative communities can sustain an artist over the course of her career.”
The marathon process for the 24 Hour Plays promptly starts at 10 p.m. on the eve of the performance. The writers, directors, actors, and production staff gather for an orientation where they are asked to share one costume piece, one prop, a special skill, and to reveal something that they have always wanted to do onstage. Using their responses for inspiration, the writers spend the night developing 10-minute plays. The next morning, the actors receive their roles and the directors arrive to begin rehearsal. Less than 12 hours later, they perform in front of a live audience. The cast for this year’s event will be announced in the coming weeks.
“For 21 years, the 24 Hour Plays have galvanized creative communities around the world,” said Armstrong in a statement. “But New York City is our home and we can’t wait to be back at the American Airlines theater for our flagship event, which raises money to support our professional intensive for young theatre artists.”
