Bebe Neuwirth, Savion Glover, Kate Rockwell, and More Join The 24 Hour Musicals
(© David Gordon)
The 24 Hour Plays has announced additional cast and creative team members for The 24 Hour Musicals, taking place on Monday, October 29, at the American Airlines Theatre. Presented in partnership with the Lillys, the event will pay homage to the women who are changing the landscape of American theater.
Bebe Neuwirth, Dee Roscioli, Jackie Cruz, Jose Llana, Miriam Shor, Molly Ringwald, Norm Lewis, Patti Murin, Savion Glover, Will Swenson, and others will join the previously announced John Mulaney, Lea DeLaria, Kate Rockwell, and Jordan Roth as part of the cast.
In addition to the previously announced Aimee Mann and Kirsten Childs, Ashley Nicole Black, Amanda Green, Jonathan Marc Sherman, and Rona Siddiqui will write and compose the musicals. Carolyn Cantor, Kathleen Marshall, Robert O'Hara, and Kate Whoriskey will direct, with Zac Zinger leading the orchestra, and Sarah O'Gleby and Rick and Jeff Kuperman choreographing. Additional names will be announced in the coming weeks.
The marathon process for The 24 Hour Musicals begins at 9pm the night before the performance. Writers, composers, directors, choreographers, actors, music directors, musicians, and production staff gather for an orientation in which 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, as well as some singing and dancing. At 11pm, the composers and writers get to work crafting 15- to 20-minute musicals overnight; at 9am the next morning, the actors receive their roles, and the directors, choreographers, and musicians arrive to begin rehearsal. Less than 12 hours later, they must be ready to perform in front of a live audience.
Proceeds from The 24 Hour Musicals on Broadway benefit the Lillys' work supporting women in theater and promoting gender parity, as well as the 24 Hour Plays' programs.
Highlights of the Lillys' outstanding accomplishments and mission will be presented by a variety of individuals throughout the evening: Lynn Nottage will represent the Lorraine Hansberry statue, sculpted by Alison Saar; Lisa Kron will represent the National Count — the largest and only ongoing survey of who and what is being produced on our nation's stage; and others.
