Ashton Kutcher to Make His New York Stage Debut with THE 24 HOUR PLAYS ON BROADWAY 11/9

Montblanc presents the 9th annual THE 24 HOUR PLAYS ON BROADWAY on Monday, November 9th 2009 at the American Airlines Theatre. Proceeds benefit Urban Arts Partnership, a not-for-profit organization that brings vital arts education programs into New York City public school classrooms.

This year's company members, include Amber Tamblyn (Bang Ditto, Joan of Arcadia), Anthony Mackie (The Bacchae, Notorious), Ashton Kutcher (What Happens in Vegas, That ‘70's Show), Billy Crudup (Public Enemies, Tony Award Winner for The Coast of Utopia), Claudie Blakley (Pride & Prejudice, Gosford Park), David Cross (Arrested Development, Year One), Emily Mortimer (The Pink Panther 1&2, Transsiberian), Emmy Rossum (Dare, Golden Globe Nominee for The Phantom of the Opera), Jennifer Esposito (Samantha Who?, Crash), Jeremy Sisto (Law & Order, Six FeetUnder), Julia Stiles (Oleanna, The Bourne Ultimatum), Leslie Bibb (Iron Man, Confessions of a Shopoholic), Michael Ealy (Miracle at St. Anna, Golden Globe Nominee for Sleeper Cell), Rachel Dratch (My Life in Ruins,SNL), Rosie Perez (Pineapple Express, Academy Award Nominee for Fearless), Saffron Burrows (Boston Legal,My Own Worst Enemy), Sam Rockwell (Frost/Nixon, Choke), Yul Vazquez (Che, American Gangster); playwrights Warren Leight (Tony Award Winner and Pulitzer Prize Nominee for Side Man, Law and Order Criminal Intent), David Lindsay-Abaire (Tony Award Nominee for Shrek the Musical, Pulitzer Prize for DramaWinner for Rabbit Hole) and Nathan Jackson (Broke-ology, Southland); and Swedish Grammy Award Winning Musical Guests A Camp, comprised of Nina Persson (vocalist and lyricist of The Cardigans) and Nathan Larson (Original Music for Dirty Pretty Things, Boys Don't Cry).

Talent subject to change based on availability.

An annual benefit event for Urban Arts Partnership, THE 24 HOUR PLAYS ON BROADWAY attracts some of entertainment's biggest names as they join forces to participate in a rite of extreme live performance: writing, directing, and performing six original short plays, all in just 24 hours! The creative process for THE 24 HOUR PLAYS ON BROADWAY will begin at 10PM on Sunday, November 8th - the night before the show - when a group of six writers, six directors, 24 actors, two musical guests, and a production staff gather at the American Airlines Theatre. After casts and crews have been briefed, each writer is tasked with composing a ten-minute playby 7 AM the following morning, when the directors return to read and select their piece. The casts will meet for the first time at 8 AM and, over the next 12 hours the plays are rehearsed and produced for a live presentation. At 8:00PM, ink barely dry, the six new plays - interspersed with six musical acts - will be performed for a live audience.

The 2009 production of THE 24 HOUR PLAYS ON BROADWAY marks the third year of Montblanc's partnershipwith the project. As a brand that embraces arts and culture, Montblanc proudly joins forces with the program's supporting company, Urban Arts Partnership, to celebrate theater and offer audiences the ultimate presentation of wit and talent. "Montblanc is proud to once again join The 24 Hour Plays on Broadway for an evening ofperformances that are sure to be full of tremendous energy," said Jan-Patrick Schmitz, President & CEO, Montblanc North America. "We are 100% committed to long-term support of arts programs as we deem theassistance that Urban Arts Partnership provides to students very critical in today's society. Our brand was foundedon the principles of cultural commitment and writing preservation and we celebrate the artists who give their time tobring both of these elements together on stage."

This year, Montblanc joins THE 24 HOUR PLAYS ON BROADWAY to celebrate the release of the Montblanc Special Edition: Ingrid Bergman writing instrument. Regarded as one of the greatest international stars in thehistory of entertainment, three editions of writing instruments have been created for the discerning woman. Each writing instrument is adorned with a lady-like amethyst. This precious stone symbolizes attributes associated with Bergman including calmness, clarity and tolerance.

Proceeds from the event benefit Urban Arts Partnership, a not-for-profit cultural organization founded in 1991 tobring the arts into New York City public school classrooms with the belief that art is essential to human development, education and culture.

Over the past 17 years, their theater, video, visual arts, dance, design andpoetry programs have visited over 250 New York City public schools and engaged more than 30,000 young people, teachers and community members. Currently, Urban Arts Partnership's programs provide in-depth integrated arts education to over 60 schools and 12,000 young people citywide, and foster long lasting partnerships that enhance the educational, artistic and cultural practices of each school community.

Founded by Tina Fallon, creator of The 24 Hour Plays, The 24 Hour Company is the long-standing incarnation of agroup of artists and producers that has mounted several hundred short plays since 1995 -- all written, cast, rehearsed and performed in a single day. Over the years, the rotating cast and crew of The 24 Hour Plays have performed for sold-out houses all over New York City: from the New York International Fringe Festival to Broadway and points in-between. The event is part of The 24 Hour Plays fifteenth Fall season, which includes a benefit forthe Atlantic Theater School on October 19, The Old Vic Theatre gala on November 1 st in London and culminates on November 9th when Montblanc presents The 24 Hour Plays on Broadway. Participants have included diversetalents --from Tony, Oscar, and Pulitzer Prize winners to emerging talent and high school students. In April 2009,The 24 Hour Company and Playscripts, Inc. published a selection of these works in 24x24: The 24 Hour Play Anthology. www.24hourplays.com.

Urban Arts Partnership is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1991 with the belief that art is essential to humandevelopment, education and culture. By supporting underserved public schools and communities, Urban ArtsPartnership bolsters students' educational experiences through the in-depth study of an art form. Urban Arts Partnership's dynamic range of programs - including playwriting, theatre, filmmaking, music production, instrument-building, visual arts, dance performance and spoken word - empower youth to develop the creative and analyticimpulses that will serve them as students, professionals and responsible citizens. The organization's partnershipswith schools and communities help students' to better understand essential academic content while supporting their social and emotional growth. In addition to year-long residencies and other special projects, Urban ArtsPartnership and The 24 Hour Play Company bring The 24 Hour Plays in the Schools program to studentsthroughout the year. www.urbanarts.org

For over 100 years, Montblanc has embraced the traditions of lasting value and exquisite craftsmanship. Thecompany'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 ofexcellence - the pinnacle of luxury writing instruments, time pieces, jewelry and leather - and the brand has made an enduring commitment to encourage excellence through cultural advancement. Montblanc is pleased to partnerwith the 24 Hour Company and Urban Arts Partnership to bring arts and culture to the city's youth. www.montblanc.com.