On November 14, Leigh Silverman will be honored with the Artistic Inspiration Award at the 16th annual gala production of The 24 Hour Plays on Broadway at the American Airlines Theatre. The annual event brings together writers, directors and actors to create and perform six original plays within 24 hours.
Silverman, who is currently directing Judith Light in Neil LaBute’s All the Ways to Say I Love You at MCC Theater, is being recognized as an inspiration to young theatre professionals. Funds raised at the event will benefit The 24 Hour Plays: Nationals, an initiative which brings together young actors, writers, directors and producers from across the country for a series of workshops and panel discussions. The annual program culminates with its own production of The 24 Hour Plays.
“Leigh Silverman is one of the great theater artists of my generation,” said Mark Armstrong, executive director of The 24 Hour Plays, in a press 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. Leigh is a champion of new plays and she has been singularly inspiring to us and to the alumni of The 24 Hour Plays: Nationals, who will present her with our Artistic Inspiration Award on November 14.”
The marathon process for The 24 Hour Plays on Broadway begins at 10 PM the night before the performance. The writers, directors, actors and production staff—many of whom have never worked with or met each other before—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 on stage. Using this as inspiration, the writers spend the night developing 10-minute plays, with rehearsals set to begin at 9 AM the following morning.
The cast for The 24 Hour Plays on Broadway 2016 will be announced shortly. The performance will take place at 8 PM at the American Airlines Theatre on Broadway. Tickets can be purchased here.
