Urban Arts Partnership advances the intellectual, social and artistic development of underserved public school students through arts-integrated education programs to close the achievement gap. Through a dynamic range of programs including playwriting, theater, media, music, dance, spoken word, photography and the visual arts, Urban Arts Partnership empowers youth to develop the creative and analytic impulses that will serve them as students, professionals and responsible citizens. The 24 Hour Plays in the Schools runs throughout the academic year.
Photo credits Zimbio.com
For over 100 years, Montblanc has embraced the traditions of lasting value and exquisite craftsmanship. The company’s uncompromising principles of design, style, quality and workmanship have allowed them to create heirloom collections that are passed from generation to generation. The iconic Montblanc Star is a symbol of excellence – the pinnacle of luxury writing instruments, timepieces, jewelry and leather – and the brand has made an enduring commitment to encourage excellence through cultural advancement. Montblanc is pleased to partner with the 24 Hour Company and Urban Arts Partnership to bring arts and culture to the city’s youth.
The 24 Hour Plays® is a long-running institution in New York and international theater, but its work is always fresh and new. Inspired by Scott McCloud’s 24 Hour Comics, creator Tina Fallon intended The 24 Hour Plays® to be a one-time-only event when it debuted on Manhattan’s Lower East Side in 1995. Eighteen years and thousands of plays and musicals later, The 24 Hour Company produces theses time limited events, including “The 24 Hour Musicals”, on Broadway and in cities all over the world. In New York, London, Los Angeles, Chicago, Florence, Dublin, and Athens, theater icons and newcomers alike regularly participate in what insiders call “the 2-4.”
Montblanc and Urban Arts Partnership held their 4th annual production of THE 24 HOUR PLAYS, in Los Angeles, on Friday, June 20, 2014 at the Broad Stage Theater in Santa Monica.
Hollywood’s finest joined forces to participate in a one-night-only live performance, produced by Kevin Chinoy and Francesca Silvestriof the Freestyle Picture Company and the 24 Hour Company. The entire creative process, from writing to directing and performing took place in just 24 hours.
This year’s talented cast and crew included: Actors: Abbie Cornish (Sucker Punch), Adam Pally(Happy Endings), Alanis Morissette (Weeds), Andra Day (The Gap summerloves cover girl as Warner Bros artist), Ashley Fink (Glee), Ashley Madekwe (Revenge), Bryan Greenberg (Lance Armstrong Biopic), Constance Zimmer (House of Cards), Danny Pudi (Community), Gavin Rossdale (Bling Ring), Jamie Chung (Sin City), Jason Ritter (Parenthood), John Cho (Star Trek), Kelly Osbourne (E! Fashion Police), Michael Ealy (Almost Human), Michelle Trachtenberg (Killing Kennedy), Ramon Rodriguez (Need forSpeed), Retta (Parks and Recreation), Rosie Perez (Artistic Board Chair, The Counselor), Seth Green (Robot Chicken), Tracie Thoms (Annie) and Wilmer Valderrama (That 70’s Show).
Writers: Ben Karlin (Emmy Award Winner for Colbert Report and Modern Family), Bill Wrubel (Emmy Award Winner for Modern Family, Will & Grace), David Krumholtz (This is the End), Gabrielle Allan (Scrubs, What’s Your Number?), Jennifer Crittenden (Arrested Development, The New Adventures of Old Christine), LaToya Morgan (Shameless), Laura Jacqmin (Grace & Frankie, Dental Society Midwinter Meeting).
Directors: Edoardo Ponti (La Voice Umana), Fred Savage (Friends with Better Lives), Leigh Kilton Smith (Acting Coach to the stars), Peter Ellenstein (William Inge Center for the Arts), Rob Greenberg (How I Met Your Mother, Happy Endings), Max Hernandez (Captain America, Winter Soldier).
Musical Talent: Andy Davis, a Nashville-based singer and guitarist who released the album Heartbreak Yellow in 2012 and Katie Stevens, a finalist in the ninth season of American Idol who stars on MTV’s series Faking It!
Urban Arts Partnership is one of the nation’s leading education organizations and works in 100 under-resourced public schools reaching more than 12,000 students annually to help them achieve better educational outcomes. “Our work in Los Angeles has more than doubled this year, in large part due to support from the LAUSD led by Superintendent John Deasy and The Los Angeles Fund for Public Education,” said Philip Courtney, CEO, Urban Arts Partnership. “It is encouraging that industry leaders such as Montblanc are willing to invest in the future of underserved students by bringing the arts back into public schools’ classrooms.”
Over the years, Montblanc has helped raise over 2 million dollars for Urban Arts Partnership in New York City and Los Angeles. The proceeds from the event will benefit Urban Arts Partnership, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the intellectual, social and artistic development of underserved public school students through arts-integrated education programs to close the achievement gap.
The creative process of THE 24 HOUR PLAYS in Los Angeles began at 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 19, 2014 when six writers, six directors, twenty-four actors, and a dedicated production team met at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica. After the community of artists shared a costume, a prop, his or her special skill set, each writer composed a ten-minute play by 7 a.m. the following morning. By 9 a.m. directors selected their pieces and their cast rehearsed over the course of the day. At 8:00 p.m, ink barely dry, the six new plays – interspersed with musical acts – were performed before a live audience. Kevyn Aucoin Beauty sponsored the evening’s makeup looks using essential and timeless Kevyn Aucoin products to create classic, flawless faces for THE 24 HOUR PLAYS cast. This celebration of theater offered Los Angeles’ audience a rare experience to witness the thrill of live theater and the talents ofHollywood’s brightest stars.
This is the ninth year that Montblanc, the international luxury brand, supported THE 24 HOUR PLAYS BENEFITING URBAN ARTS PARTNERSHIP, demonstrating their support of Arts and Culture. Their ongoing commitment to fostering emerging talent came to life when Montblanc held their 2nd annual Young Auditioner’s Program on May 12, 2014 and the two winners of the audition, who joined the cast line-up were ArTES seniors Alexia Cardenas and Oskar Guzman.
Additionally, in April 2014, the premiere luxury maison celebrated the 90th Anniversary of their iconic fountain pen, the Meisterstuck, and it launched the Meisterstuck Collection, a unique selection of sensual leather goods, meticulously crafted timepieces, refined jewelry and of course a new Meisterstuck featuring a limited-time only special nib. The iconic Meisterstück has been an enduring symbol of the brand’s values: writing culture, arts and celebrating innovative thinkers.