The 24 Hour Plays® 2017: A Bennington Tribute to Spencer Cox

On February 20, 2017, Bennington College presented a one night–only benefit to support the Spencer Cox ’90 Scholarship for student activists. The performance took place at The Pershing Square Signature Center in New York City.

A talented cast and crew of Bennington alumni and friends—six writers, six directors, and 24 actors—created, produced, and performed six short plays in just 24 hours. The production was done in tribute to alumnus Spencer Cox '90, artist, performer, and activist.

Proceeds from the benefit have helped to establish the Spencer Cox Scholarship for student activists at Bennington College. Spencer, who died in 2012, was a pivotal member of ACT UP, the direct-action advocacy group with a mission to end AIDS. He played a defining role in the formation of the Treatment Action Group (TAG) to focus on accelerating AIDS treatment research and lent creative intellect and intense focus to help fight one of the most pressing social and public health crises of our time. 

Take a look through these photos and the video below capturing the 24 hour process, from rehearsals to performances. To learn more, follow #Bennington24 or read the press release.

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About the Scholarship

Spencer Cox 24 Hour Plays play video
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The 24 Hour Plays®: A Bennington Tribute to Spencer Cox

Participants

Special Guests: Peter Staley and Carly Sommerstein

Writers:  Susie Felber ’93; Modesto Flako Jimenez ’06; Maya Macdonald ’07; Sean-Patrick O'Brien '14; Jonathan Marc Sherman ’90; special guest David Drake 

Directors: Chris Boscia ’87; Paul Cello '92; SJ Chiro ’87; William Lipscomb ’87; Lorca Peress ’79; Julie Tucker ’89 

Assistant Directors: Patrick Harnett-Marshall '16; Deidrea Hamid ’12;  Ben Mankoff' 11; Jodi Marchowsky '98; Mae Mitchell '12; Kelly Nichols-Hoppe ’14 

Actors: Aadya Bedi '01;Jim Cairl ’98; Tenara Calem ’15; Christina Campanella ’89; Danielia Cotton ’90; Nick DiLeonardi '15;  Lex Friedman '07; Joel Marsh Garland ’97; James Habacker MFA '94; Anne Hubbard ’89; Laurel Johnson ’12; Carla Klein ’89; Maya Knell ’16; Marion Markham ’77; John Wills Martin ’88; Lesley McBurney ’92; Eben Moore '96; Andrew Plimpton ’14; Julia Prud'homme ’87; Kian Ross '13; Eissa Saeed '12; Brandi Nicole Wilson ’00; Max Wolkowitz ’09; Mark Woodcock

Producer: Blaine Graboyes ’95

Managing Producer: Ed Needham ’88 

Consulting Producer: Jeff Segal '89

Light Designer: Braden Williams '16

Stage Managers: Emily Grayson '15, Angelique Kenney '86, Alice Perlmutter '83

Production Designer: ​Lauryn Axelrod '86

Writers

David Drake
David Drake

bio

Susie Felber
Susie Felber '93

bio

Picture of Modesto Flako Jimenez
Modesto Flako Jimenez ’06

bio 

Maya Macdonald
Maya Macdonald ’07
Sean-Patrick O'Brien
Sean-Patrick O'Brien '14
Picture of Jonathan Marc Sherman
Jonathan Marc Sherman '90

bio

Directors

Picture of Chris Boscia
Chris Boscia '87
Paul Cello
Paul Cello '92
Picture of SJ Chiro
SJ Chiro ’87
Picture of William Lipscomb
William Lipscomb ’87
Picture of Lorca Peress
Lorca Peress ’79

bio

Julie Tucker
Julie Tucker '89

bio

Patrick Harnett-Marshall
Patrick Harnett-Marshall '16
Assistant Director
Deidrea Hamid
Deidrea Hamid '12
Assistant Director

bio

Ben Mankoff
Ben Mankoff '11
Assistant Director
Filler Picture
Jodi Marchowsky '98
Assistant Director
Mae Mitchell
Mae Mitchell '10
Assistant Director
Kelly Nichols-Hoppe '14
Kelly Nichols-Hoppe '14
Assistant Director

bio

Actors

Aadya Bedi
Aadya Bedi '01
Jim Cairl
Jim Cairl ’98
Picture of Tenara Calem
Tenara Calem ’15
Christina Campanella
Christina Campanella ’89
Filler Picture
Danielia Cotton '90
Nick DiLeonardi '15
Nick DiLeonardi '15
Lex Friedman
Lex Friedman '07
Picture of Joel Marsh Garland
Joel Marsh Garland ’97

bio

James Habacker
James Habacker MFA '94
Annie Hubbard
Annie Hubbard ’89
Picture of  Laurel Johnson ’12
Laurel Johnson ’12
Picture of Carla Klein
Carla Klein ’89

bio 

Picture of Maya Knell
Maya Knell ’16

bio

Picture of Marion Markham
Marion Markham ’77

bio

John Wills Martin
John Wills Martin ’88
Picture of Lesley McBurney ’92
Lesley McBurney ’92
Eben Moore
Eben Moore '96

bio

Picture of Andrew Plimpton
Andrew Plimpton ’14
Picture of Julia Prud'homme
Julia Prud'homme '87

bio

Picture of Kian Ross '13
Kian Ross '13
Eissa Saeed
Eissa Saeed '12
Brandi Nicole Wilson
Brandi Nicole Wilson '00

bio

Picture of Max Wolkowitz
Max Wolkowitz ’09
Filler picture
Mark Woodcock

Production 

Picture of Blaine Graboyes
Blaine Graboyes '95
Producer

bio

Ed Needham
Ed Needham '88
Managing Producer

bio

Jeff Segal
Jeff Segal '89
Consulting producer
Filler Picture
​Lauryn Axelrod '86
Production Designer
Emily Grayson
Emily Grayson '15
Stage Manager
Angelique Kenney '86
Angelique Kenney '86
Assistant Stage Manager
Alice Perlmutter '83
Alice Perlmutter '83
Stage Manager

bio

Braden Williams
Braden Williams '16
Light Designer

About Spencer Cox

Spencer Cox ’90 an artist, performer, and activist who studied drama and literature at Bennington, lent creative intellect and intense focus to help fight one of the most pressing social and public health crises of our time. Read more about Spencer Cox and the Spencer Cox '90 Memorial Scholarship.

Have a memory of Spencer to share? The Alumni Memory Project is currently collecting memories and stories of Spencer's life both while at Bennington and after. Share a memory by calling 802-440-4790 or emailing alumni24hourplays@bennington.edu.

Spencer Cox
Photograph © Walter Kurtz

few [people] were as startlingly original and productive as young Spencer. Larry Kramer, playwright and activist  

Produced in association with The 24 Hour Company.