The 24 Hour Plays have announced the first round of participants for this year’s production on Mon Oct 30th, at 8:00pm at the American Airlines (227 W 42nd St.) Additional cast and creative team members will be announced in the coming weeks. This year’s cast will feature Raul Castillo, Josh Charles, Jackie Cruz, Jennifer Esposito, Noah Galvin, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Nina Hellman, Cush Jumbo, Mia Katigbak, Lola Kirke, Russell G Jones, Orlando Pabotoy, Christina Ricci, Kyra Sedgwick, Jeremy Shamos, Jonathan Marc Sherman, Justice Smith, Lois Smith, Nico Tortorella & Yul Vasquez. This year’s directing team will include May Adrales, Warren Leight, Patricia McGregor, Jessica Stone & Kate Whoriskey. The writing team will include Fernanda Coppel, Chisa Hutchinson, David Lindsay-Abaire, Martyna Majok & Molly Smith Metzler. This year’s musical guest is Shaina Taub. As previously announced, playwright Marsha Norman will be honored as part of the organization’s partnership with The Lilly Awards.  The marathon process for The 24 Hour Plays begins at 9 PM the night before the performance. Writers, composers, directors, choreographers, actors, music directors, musicians 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, as well as some singing and dancing. At 11 PM, the composers and writers get to work crafting 15-20 minute musicals overnight; at 9 AM the next morning, the actors receive their roles and the directors, choreographers and musicians arrive to begin rehearsal. Less than 12 hours later, they must be ready to perform in front of a live audience. Tickets are available for purchase at www.24hourplays.com. Press contact: Alyson Ahrns/Slate PR (646/741-4449)...