Brian Murray and Madeleine Martin To Star in Project Shaw's 'Cleopatra'

PROJECT SHAW, now in its third of four years, continues tackling every play George Bernard Shaw ever wrote. This will be its 30th presentation, taking place on Monday, September 22nd, 2008 at 7 p.m. at the Players Club, 16 Gramercy Park South. David Staller is producer and director.

In this sweeping historical comedy, a victorious Julius Caesar (Brian Murray) arrives in Egypt confronted by the frightened child, Cleopatra (Madeleine Martin, from the cast of August: Osage County.) Under his guidance, she becomes the legendary Queen of legend.

The cast also stars Daphne Rubin-Vega, Simon Jones, Jack Koenig, Daniel Reichard, Daniel Marconi, Seth Rudetsky, Todd Gearhart, Anthony Holds, Tim Artz, Jon Levenson.

Tickets are only $20 and are available after the first of the month. Call TheaterMania at 212-352-3101 or log onto www.PROJECTSHAW.com

THESE PERFORMANCES ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. The Players is New York’s most legendary private club. The former residence of Edwin Booth, it became a club for those interested in the arts in 1888.

Among those actors who have previously appeared are michael cerveris, Tyne Daly, Karen Ziemba, Jayne Houdyshell, Blair Brown, John Cullum, Veanne Cox, Marc Kudisch, Marian Seldes, Brian Murray, Rebecca Luker, Charlotte Rae, Fritz Weaver, Kate Mulgrew, Charles Busch and Kathleen Widdoes.

As Shaw began his theatrical life as a critic, members of the press have also been involved in each reading. Those who have introduced or acted include Jeremy McCarter, Howard Kissel, Charles Isherwood, Michael Riedel, John Simon, Frank Scheck, David Cote, Adam Feldman, Rex Reed, Roma Torre, David Finkle, Eric Grode, and Robert Simonson.

In addition to PROJECT SHAW, GTG is also producing a successful new play development program. Named for one of Shaw' inflammatory one-acts, PRESS CUTTINGS: the new plays will be produced by David Staller and Peter Flynn. As Shaw was a theater critic before becoming a playwright, all writers are currently on-staff critics or journalists devoted to covering the theater scene. The three writers chosen for the first year's cycle will be David Cote, Jeremy McCarter and Robert Simonson. These plays will be developed in a year-long workshop process. Once their own theatre space is secured, GTG will be presenting a full season including two fully mounted Shaw plays and at least one new play. These plays are to focus on the Shavian precepts involving individual human rights, political and social responsibility and the comic absurdity of daily life. Interested writers should contact the Press Cuttings program at: peterflynn@gingoldgroup.com

Photo Credit RD/Leon/Retna Ltd.