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News Release
January 21, 2010
Community 24-Hour Plays to Benefit Haitian Relief Efforts

The William Inge Center for the Arts aids in the global response to the Haitian earthquake relief by donating proceeds from its 5th annual “Independence Area 24-Hour Plays” sponsored by the William Inge Center for the Arts, on Saturday, January 30th, in Independence.  Tickets are $5 for general and $3 for students and curtain is 8 p.m.

The proceeds will be split among two charities.  The first is Kansas-based Heart to Heart International, which addresses community health concerns, delivers medical aid, and responds to people in crisis around the world.  The second beneficiary is Partners in Health.  This organization is one of the leading Haiti Relief organizations, nurturing a comprehensive approach to battling disease and poverty throughout the world.
 
“Everyone involved with the Inge Center felt that we wanted to do our small part to help the disaster victims,” said Inge Center Artistic Director, Peter Ellenstein.  “So we’re doing what we do best: creating new plays and involving the community in service to an urgent humanitarian cause.  I hope everyone can come out and enjoy the show and benefit people in need.”
 
The 24-Hour Plays are presented in partnership with the 24 Hour Company of New York.  Local thespians create, rehearse, produce and present a handful of brand new short plays with the help of a crew of their colleague writers, actors, technicians and directors, all in one 24-hour period.
 
Despite its name, no one actually stays awake for 24 hours.  The playwrights are the only persons who are up late night, as they must write a new 10-minute script by 6 a.m. Saturday.  The actors spend Saturday rehearsing and memorizing their lines as no improvisation is allowed.

Since its inception in 1995 by Christina Fallon, the 24-Hour Plays Company has produced more than 300 new short plays, primarily by academic and professional groups. The Independence Area Community 24 Hour Plays is one of a handful in the nation to spotlight non-student theater enthusiasts, through a few college students will join as well.
 
The Inge Center is funded in part by grants from the Kansas Arts Commission, the Hallmark Corporation, the William T. Kemper Foundation/Commerce Bank, the National Endowment for the Arts, the William Inge Festival Foundation and Independence Community College.
 For more information on the 24-Hour Plays or additional Inge Center activities, call (800) 842-5492 or the official 24-Hour Plays website at www.24hourplays.com.