Sun. May 11

The Brattle Theatre has its self-explanatory "Schlock Around the Clock" movie marathon, so why can't Boston Playwrights' Theatre - the B.U. wing - present 50  theater companies performing 50 ten-minute plays by 50 playwrights in ten non-stop hours? And, actually, this is their tenth year of such madness, so it's a tradition. It is dutifully titled "The Tenth Annual Boston Theater Marathon." It takes place Sunday May 11, at the Stanford Calderwood Pavilion in Boston's South End, starting at noon and running to 10 p.m. We're guessing your $25 (advance) or $30 (day-of) pass will allow you to come and go to attend to such needs as food, drink and rest room.

This year four theatres new to the Boston Theater Marathon are taking part:  Spontaneous Theatre Project, Orfeo Theatre Company, Gurnet Theatre Project and Theatre On Fire. Darren Evans from Theatre on Fire had this to say: "I was delighted to be asked to participate in this year's Marathon. I've directed for the Marathon in year's past for other theatre companies, but have not been able to participate since founding Theatre on Fire, and have never experienced it in its new digs in the Calderwood Pavilion. I've always found the Marathon experience to be gobs of fun, with a palpable atmosphere of goodwill and a critical mass of talent.  I am very happy that TOF is able to contribute and feel privileged to be involved." And it's a charity gig, raisinng funds for the Theatre Community Benevolent Fund.

527 Tremont St., 617-933-8600 www.bostonplaywrights.org or www.bostontheatrescene.com