A starry cast has signed on to participate at this year’s 24 Hour Plays on Broadway, a benefit performance to be held on October 22 at the American Airlines Theater. A company of 24 actors will appear in six short plays by six top playwrights, with the entire process of writing, rehearsal, and performance taking place in 24 hours. Proceeds benefit Working Playground, an organization that brings arts education into New York City classrooms.

This year’s acting company includes Elizabeth Berkley (Hurlyburly), Billy Crudup (The Coast of Utopia), David Cross (Arrested Development), Rachel Dratch (Saturday Night Live), Michael Ealy (Sleeper Cell), Mamie Gummer (Mr. Marmalade), Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: SVU), Peter Hermann (Talk Radio), Matthew Lillard (Scream), Anthony Mackie (Half Nelson), Janel Moloney (The West Wing), Rosie Perez (The Ritz, and chair of Working Playground’s artistic board), Fisher Stevens (A Prairie Home Companion), Julia Stiles (The Bourne Ultimatum), Lili Taylor (Six Feet Under), Marlo Thomas (Free to Be You and Me) and Kerry Washington (The Last King of Scotland).

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