Mischief and mishaps undeniably characterized the event, but a wave of hush fell over the audience as student poets Janessa Terry and Canice Munroe performed their work at the show’s opening. Their words had audience members and celebrities alike enthralled, and highlighted the excellent forum provided by Urban Arts in enabling young creatives from underprivileged backgrounds to showcase their talent.

Indeed, there was much talent on display throughout the evening as six plays, written just a day earlier, had their first and last public airing. All the ubiquitous components of a 24 hour play were there – on-stage tumbles, corpsing and reams of questionable props. The clear favorite of the evening had to be Reservation for Rockwell: a play about Sam Rockwell, starring Sam Rockwell as Sam Rockwell. No points for innovation there.

But creativity came in a different form entirely, with Justin Long and Billy Crudup showing a lot of skin in tiny Hooters tank tops. Battling to see who could offer up the best Rockwell impression before the man himself arrived for dinner, their competition was comedy gold. Mr. Rockwell’s entrance inspired some serious slo-mo shapes being thrown onstage, and as High School Musical darling and 24 hour play participant Vanessa Hudgens so neatly surmised to The Observer on the red carpet, “Seeing Sam Rockwell and Justin Long doing a dance-off kind of blew my mind.”

Also on the red carpet at BB King Blues Club was Broadway veteran and self-proclaimed “mama hen” Tracie Thoms who agreed, “We all know the best play was that dang Sam Rockwell piece. I mean, how do you write that overnight? The tiny Hooters tops…I mean, it was a package deal, they sealed it, they win, they get the 24 hour Oscar. It’s not even fair it was so good!” Thoms starred as lady loving ghetto princess Shaneetra in Impeach the Socialist, a somewhat strange play saved by the stage skills of both her and comedy queen Kristen Schaal. Other star performances included 30 Rock’s Jack McBrayer as a man who fell in love with a horse, Seth Green as a surprisingly convincing Mexican and American Pie’s Eddie Kaye Thomas as a zombie banker.

Jason Biggs, also of American Pie fame, starred alongside his childhood pal Kaye Thomas, but when it came to the zombie-off, there was only one real contender. “Eddie clearly made the better zombie,” he conceded, but Mr. Biggs certainly made an impact in the charm stakes, winning over The Observer with a refreshingly laid back attitude.

“I’ve always wanted to be on stage with Eddie, so it was really cool for me to act with my buddy on stage tonight,” he said, before revealing: “I’ve done two 24 hour plays before, and the way to do it is to go first. All night I was watching and enjoying everyone perform, but I was also fucking nervous!”

Stage fright had also plagued Precious star Gabourey Sidibe, who enthused, “I loved tonight, I had so much fun! But I always get really scared and I was like ‘I can’t do it this year.’ I always regret thinking that and want to punch myself in the face about it afterwards because I have so much fun doing it.”

Thankfully, there was no need for self-flagellation, apart from perhaps an enthusiastic pat on the back. As the afterparty – also attended by Macaulay Culkin, who shunned the spotlight in favor of a dark corner at Amber Heard’s table – continued late into the evening, the actors hit the dance floor to let off some steam. Ms. Heard had taken a somewhat epic tumble onstage during her performance, but recovered like a trooper, characterizing an evening whereby the calamities were a vital – and probably the best – part of the process.

Gabourey Sidibe (Patrick McMullan)

Last night's Cinema Society- and Altoids-sponsored Our Idiot Brother screening, Precious star Gabourey Sidibe was raving about the film's star, Paul Rudd.

"I love Clueless!" she told us. (A photographer, shortly after, announced that Mr. Rudd's Clueless co-star Alicia Silverstone was in the building.) She particularly loved Mr. Rudd's role in The Ten. We decided to ask about world events--it's August, and there's not too much to discuss. Would Ms. Sidibe sell the rights to her wedding as Kim Kardashian had? "No, I would prefer something more private."

We asked if the actress had any advice for the Brooklyn-bound celebutante, and a publicist chimed in: "We're not going to discuss any other celebrities."

Okay, then, how about Libya? "I don't know about that!"

Other guests at the party were occupied: Law & Order's Richard Belzer, hanging out with 30 Rock's Judah Friedlander, was playing with a small pup and in so doing knocked over a wineglass; Kirsten Dunst skipped the red carpet spent the evening huddled with two pals.

ddaddario@observer.com :: @DPD_

"Holy crap, it's Martha Stewart!" gasped Precious star Gabourey Sidibe at the premiere of the The Big C hosted by The Cinema Society & Showtime at Donna Karan's East Hampton cove-front home on Saturday, Aug. 7. "I like knowing how to make things out of pine cones," she said, explaining her awe.

Ms. Sidibe, who a plays a disgruntled teenage student on the show, had not yet acclimated to her surroundings. "I'm in some inn," she said.

The hulking craft queen, meanwhile, was attired in a silk, sand-colored blouse. "There's Donna!" she hollered, bulldozing forth.

"Oh, I'm so glad you're here," said Ms. Karan, whose Urban Zen Foundation co-hosted the event.

"Hi, Martha," designer Calvin Klein said kindly, but with slightly less enthusiasm than the hostess.

"I can't wait to see the house. I've never been here before,"

"You're kidding!" Ms. Karan said, "Oh, I'm gonna take you all around, honey!"

The wafting scent of citronella led guests up a curling path from the driveway to a wide teak deck covered in freshly mown grass (concealing a pool, it turned out).

Caftan-clad IMG Fashion honcho Fern Mallis greeted Halston creative director Sarah Jessica Parker and her husband, Matthew Broderick, as they sucked down soba noodles on a divan.

What does the couple, parents of three, usually do while at their Sag Harbor home?

"We wake up at the crack of dawn with our children and we never, ever, ever, ever go out," Ms. Parker said. "Never. And literally, it's Fawlty Towers, we have endless houseguests. It's been great, it's been a good summer."

At around 9:30 p.m., Ms. Karan was crouching at Mr. Klein's feet, back propped against the designer's knees. On the balcony of the house's second floor, Ms. Stewart photographed the scene below with her iPhone.

"A day," Ms. Karan said jadedly, when asked how long the party setup took.

All the upholstery and rugs were white; wasn't she concerned about spills?

"We don't think about it!"

Fresh off batting away scathing reviews for Sex and the City 2, the erstwhile Miranda will play the best friend to Laura Linney's cancer stricken lead in a recurring guest star role, which will mark the first time since Sex and the City that Nixon has appeared on cable television. Her casting also makes The Big C even more of a must-see. Besides Linney and Nixon, the new series also features Idris Elba, Oliver Platt, Gabourey Sidibe and Brian Cox.

Between The Big C, Weeds (which added Jennifer Jason Leigh and Alanis Morrisette to the cast once again this season) and Nurse Jackie, you have to wonder why Showtime seems to have cornered the market on strong, female roles, while other cable channels (think: HBO) have not. Whatever the reason, it'll probably be a good idea to re-subscribe to Showtime before too long. The Big C premieres August 16.

Meanwhile, Mr. Tyler was dropping by Glamour magazine’s Women of the Year awards at Carnegie Hall to cheer on poet Maya Angelou, who was being presented a lifetime achievement award by president Bill Clinton. Mr. Tyler, who seemed a bit loopy and tired, said that he’s been “having way too much fun” and then something about a sobriety check. His girlfriend, Erin Brady, was by his side, draped in a massive fur coat, though the singer, wearing an embroidered floral jacket, told reporters he was also there to support animal-friendly designer Stella McCartney, daughter of Paul.

“Stella is fabulous. I go in and buy purses all the time. You know how androgynous I am,” Mr. Tyler said. And then, imitating himself: “Stella! Thirty percent rock discount!”

A reporter asked him how Mr. Tyler gets ready for nights out. “I ask sweet Jesus to please make me not stutter and then I give her a kiss,” he said, leaning over and smooching Ms. Brady, “and then I ask Marco where we’re going and make sure my makeup looks all right and from there we just”—and here he began singing—“follow-the-yellow-brick-road! Ha-ha-ha.” (“Marco” was presumably record producer Mark Hunter, who was part of Mr. Tyler’s entourage that evening.)

Next up were released-from-captivity journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee, who were being presented an award by actress Catherine Zeta-Jones.

“I’m excited to just say hello to him again tonight,” said Ms. Ling. “President Clinton has called a couple of times to check in on us and we’ve had dinner with him and Chelsea.” Oooh, fancy!

Actress Andie MacDowell arrived with 20-year-old daughter Rainey Qualley, an aspiring actress dressed in a curve-enhancing Herve Leger dress. “I tell her to accept herself and to be confident,” Ms. MacDowell said when asked what sort of womanly advice she has passed on to Ms. Qualley. Then Ms. MacDowell told her beautiful daughter that she had lipstick on her teeth. Ms. Qualley used her finger to wipe it off.

Real Housewives of New York member Alex McCord arrived with husband Simon van Kempen, and was noticeably displeased when told that while she was welcome to pose for photos, the red-carpet interviews were restricted to honorees and their presenters.

Next came Precious actress Gabourey Sidibe, who told reporters that she would like to star in something lighter than her current critically acclaimed film. “I think I’m funny and my mom thinks I’m funny, so yes, we think I should do a comedy,” she said, laughing. Supermodel Iman, there to present an award to Rihanna, saw Ms. Sidibe and squealed. “I never met you before and now I see you twice in one week!” said Iman. “I love your dress,” the young actress replied, admiring Iman’s feathered Jason Wu mini.

“Sorry. Iman,” she told reporters after the interruption, rolling her eyes and breaking into a childish giggle.