Entitled First Vote '08 Trust Us — This Won't Hurt at All, the celebratory event will begin at 7:30 PM and will feature a mix of short plays, songs, sketches and toasts.

Among those scheduled to appear at the Election Eve event are Tanya Barfield, Mia Barron, Stephen Belber, Leila Buck, Julia Cho, Kathleen Chalfant, Colman Domingo, Melissa Friedman, Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros, Rachael Holmes, Teri Lamm, Craig Lucas, Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr., Nilaja Sun, David Strathairn, James Wallert, Sarah Winkler and David Zellnik. Food Network's Gordon Elliott will host.

The evening, according to press notes, honors "student alumnae from Epic's innovative, civic-minded education programs who will be voting for the first time the next day. This one-hour benefit weaves together a collection of short plays, spoken op-eds, music, comedy sketches, and toasts that take a satiric, passionate, and most often personal perspective on citizenship, democracy, and the experience of voting."

Tickets for First Vote '08 are priced $25-$50 ($10 for students with code "ST10" and student ID); $250 VIP tickets include a pre-show reception with the performers. For general admission and student tickets call (212) 279-4200 or visit www.ticketcentral com; for VIP tix e-mail [email protected] or call (212) 239-1770.

The Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College of Criminal Justice is located at 899 Tenth Avenue, between 58th and 59th Streets. *

Epic Theater Ensemble is a company of Citizen-Artists "using theatre to inspire dialogue about vital social, ethical, and political issues. Epic's mission is to build citizenship in communities throughout the city by producing socially-minded plays Off-Broadway, and connecting these plays to the NYC Public Schools via ground-breaking, fully-integrated artist residencies."