April 4, 2011; Source: Bellingham Herald | In these challenging times, nonprofits are expected to improvise in order to survive. But in Bellingham, Wash., local nonprofits are turning to an improv theater company to help them survive. Starting this Friday at 8 p.m., and ending some 27 hours later at 11 p.m. Saturday, cast members from The Upfront Theater will perform nonstop.

Local nonprofits will try to fill the seats with patrons who will attend the performance on their behalf. For the nonprofit that logs the most audience attendance time, The Upfront Theater will hold a benefit performance at later date. New shows will begin hourly over the course of night and day event. People can buy tickets priced at $5 or $10 for each show or "stay as long as you can" passes for $20.

While there's no doubt there will be lots of laughs over the 27 hours, we bet the nonprofits vying for the prize are taking this competition very seriously.—Bruce Trachtenberg