As previously announced, Jessica attended last night the Children’s Monologue at the Carnegie Hall in New York.

Oscar winner Danny Boyle assembled an all star A team of actors for “The Children’s Monologues,” a charity event of performances to benefit the UK charity Dramatic Need. The group funds programs in South Africa for impoverished children.

Boyle– director of “Slumdog Millionaire,” “Trainspotting,” and “127 Hours”– brought together Susan Sarandon, James McAvoy, Audra McDonald, Jessica Chastain, Anne Hathaway, Jason Alexander, Andrew Garfield, Daveed Diggs, Common, Esperanza Spaulding, Cynthia Erivo, Daniel Kaluuya, Gugu Mbatha Raw, Sebastian Stan, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and on and and on.

They read monologues written by South African children and then polished up by dramaturgs like Lynn Nottage, Tom Stoppard, Neil LaBute and others. Also featured was the Via Vyndal Pantsula Dance Crew and the New York City Youth Ensemble. It was a 5 star night that beautifully captured the spirit of South Africa and let some of our newest stars show off their stage ability. No one had more than a few hours of rehearsal.

Accordingly Showbiz411, Jessica learned after who she’d replaced.

Jessica Chastain learned the lines of her powerful dramatic monologue on the plane coming from L.A. yesterday. After she nailed it and came offstage, McAvoy– who she said “roped her into this”– told her who she’d replaced at the last minute. “Meryl Streep! Oh my god,” said Jessica, whose mother and best friend came to support her. “Oh. my. god.”

Check in our gallery some pictures of her arrival.