Morgan Freeman, Laurie Metcalf, John Malkovich, Zachary Quinto, Vanessa Williams, David Alan Grier, Elizabeth Ashley, Matthew Broderick, Lucas Hedges and Paul Mescal are among the actors who will participate in a benefit series of new live stage reading productions of works by great playwrights like Gore Vidal, David Mamet, Kenneth Lonergan and Donald Margulies.
Producer Jeffrey Richards announced the new line-up of the weekly Spotlight On Plays, a web series on the recently launched Broadway’s Best Shows website. The proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to The Actor’s Fund, with the livestream events being available for a strictly limited period of time.
The productions are brand new and performed remotely. Directors like Mamet, Phylicia Rashad and Daniel Sullivan have leeway in the presentation of their shows. (Watch a trailer for the series above.)
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The series, which follows production of love letters with Bryan Cranston and Sally Field last May, runs from October 14th through December 10th and premieres with a new show weekly. Tickets are sold at a “Pay What You Can” price starting at $ 5.
First up is Gore Vidal’s The Best Man, directed by Michael Wilson, with an all-star cast led by Freeman, Broderick, Malkovich, Quinto and Phylicia Rashad. (The full list of performers and plays can be found below.)
Next up is Lonergan’s This Is Our Youth with Hedges, Normal People’s Mescal and Grace Van Patten from The Meyerowitz Stories. Lila Neugebauer is in charge.
Week 3 brings David Mamets races, with David Alan Grier and Richard Thomas returning from the original 2009 cast on Broadway. Also featured are Ed O’Neill and Alicia Stith, directed by Phylicia Rashad.
Mamet’s Boston Marriage follows next week, with playwright directing Patti LuPone, Rebecca Pidgeon and Sophia Macy.
Next up is Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya, adapted by Neil LaBute, directed by Alan Cumming, Constance Wu and Ellen Burstyn. Directed by Danya Taymor.
The series continues with Donald Margulies’ Time Stands Still, with Daniel Sullivan directing a reunion of the original 2010 Broadway cast: Eric Bogosian, Brian d’Arcy James, Laura Linney and Alicia Silverstone.
The final show in the series is Robert O’Hara’s Barbecue, directed by Metcalf, David Morse, S. Epatha Merkerson, Carrie Coon and Colman Domingo, directed by Robert O’Hara.
The Spotlight on Plays series was created and produced by Jeffrey Richards and Executive Produced by Patty Baker / Good Productions, Rebecca Gold, Jayne Baron Sherman, Iris Smith with Jim Glaub and Jacob Soroken Porter. Select productions from the series are also produced by Ken Greiner, Louise L. Gund, Terry Schnuck, Ted Snowdon and The Shubert Organization.
Here is the complete lineup. All performances begin at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.
Gore Vidals THE BEST MAN
October 14, 2020
Cast in alphabetical order Elizabeth Ashley, Reed Birney, Matthew Broderick, Katie Finneran, Morgan Freeman, Julie Halston, Stacy Keach, Robert Krulwich, John Malkovich, Zachary Quinto, Phylicia Rashad, Robert Sella, Lee Wilkof, Vanessa Williams, Whitney Winfield with Sean Close, Travoye Joyner, Jered McLenigan, TJ Wagner. Directed by Michael Wilson.
Kenneth Lonergans THIS IS OUR YOUTH
20th October 2020
Actors are Lucas Hedges, Paul Mescal and Grace Van Patten. Directed by Lila Neugebauer.
David Mamets RUN
October 29, 2020
Actors are David Alan Grier, Ed O’Neill, Alicia Stith and Richard Thomas. Directed by Phylicia Rashad.
David Mamet’s BOSTON MARRIAGE
November 12, 2020
Starring Patti LuPone, Rebecca Pidgeon and Sophia Macy. Directed by David Mamet.
Anton Chekhov’s UNCLE VANYA
19th November 2020
Actors are Alan Cumming, Samira Wiley, Konstanz Wu, Ellen Burstyn, Manik Choksi, K. Todd Freeman, Mia Katigbak and Anson Mount. As told by Gabriel Ebert. Directed by Danya Taymor. Adapted by Neil LaBute.
Donald Margulies’ TIME IS STILL
3rd December 2020
Original Broadway Cast cast: Eric Bogosian, Brian d’Arcy James, Laura Linney and Alicia Silverstone. Directed by Daniel Sullivan
Robert O’Hara GRILL
December 10, 2020
Cast are Carrie Coon, Colman Domingo, Kimberly Hébert Gregory, Annie McNamara, S. Epatha Merkerson, Laurie Metcalf, David Morse, Kristine Nielsen, Tamberla Perry and Heather Simms. Directed by Robert O’Hara.
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