Cast Set for PLAYWRIGHTS FOR A CAUSE Benefit for New Yorkers Against Gun Violence

The annual Playwrights for a Cause will be Sunday, July 24th at 7:30 pm at the Atlantic Theatre (Linda Gross Theater), 336 West 20th Street, NYC 10011. Founded and curated by Glory Kadigan, Playwrights for a Cause is the annual benefit hosted by Planet Connections Theatre Festivity. This year the event will benefit this important group - New Yorkers Against Gun Violence.

The playwrights and their new plays are: Security by Israel Horovitz; BEFORE by Penny Jackson; Jezelle the Gazelle by Dominique Morisseau; Doublecross by John Patrick Shanley; and Biting the Bullet by ReGina Taylor.

The outstanding cast for the plays includes: Soraya Broukhim (Azar), J. Bernard Callaway (Harold), Lynn Cohen (Big Sally), David Deblinger (Zelly), Craig 'muMs' Grant (Willy), Ed Jewett (Little Debbie), Felix Monge (Amin), Postell Pringle (Webster), Myra Lucretia Taylor (Maya) and Planet Connections Award Winning Actors Peter Collier (Scottie) and Dominique Fishback (Jezelle).

Understudies include Planet Connections Award Winning actors: James Edward Becton, Narada Campbell, Azariah Gunn, Peter Jensen, James B. Kennedy, James O'Brien, Misti Tindiglia and Kara Young.

The event will be followed by the annual Planet Connections Nominations announcement party for the 2016 Season.

Tickets are: $25 for back row General Admission; $50 General Admission; $75 Premium Seating, and $125 for an Open Bar, Food, Backstage Access Pass to the Backstage Party with the Writers/Actors/Directors/Designers and Premium Seating. Tickets are available through the website planetconnections.org/playwrights-for-a-cause-2016 or they can call Ovation at: OvationTix toll-free: 866-811-4111.

The creative team for this year includes these Directors: Steve Broadnax (Jazelle the Gazelle); Glory Kadigan (Biting the Bullet, Security, Doublecross) and Lori Kee (Before). The Designers are: James Dardenne (Scenic); Benjamin Ehrenreich (Lighting); Cheryl McCaarron (Costume); and Jacob Subotnick (Sound). The Production Team includes: Jazmyn Arroyo (Assistant Producer); Collin James Bradley (Asst. Producer); Robin Carus(Casting Director); Brock H. Hill (Associate Producer) and Tyler Winthrop (Production Stage Manager).

Yoko Ono Chairs the Honorary Committee of: Kim Brizzolara, Marco Calvani, Lucy DeVito. Abigail Disney, Erik Ehn, Angelina Fiordellisi, Halley Feiffer, Catherine Filloux, Neil LaBute, Kelly McAndrew, Shaun Peknic, Michael Puzzo, Donna Vivino and Mia Yoo.

Soraya Broukhim for bio & credits please go to www.sorayabroukhim.com. I wish that performances inspire people to talk to take action to solve the problem of violence and make peace. And be an example for real change so people can say "Yes, I want change and I can change it, and take action." Thank you for being here.

J. Bernard Callaway Broadway: Memphis, All The Way. Off-Broadway: The Good Negro, Head of Passes (The Public Theater). Regional: Jitney (Two River Theater), Stagger Lee (Dallas Theater Co.), The Mountaintop (Milwaukee Rep). Film & TV: Pelham 123, Man on a Ledge, The Breaks, Blue Bloods, Elementary, Tiara.

Lynn Cohen Film and TV roles range from the nanny Magda in "Sex and The City" to the silent warrior Mags in "Hunger Games"; "Catching Fire" and the eloquent Golda Meir in Steven Spielberg's "Munich." Many New York Theater credits include, most recently, Big Love (Signature Theatre) and I Remember Mama (Transport Group; Lucille Lortel Award nomination). On Broadway, she appeared in Peter Hall's production of Orpheus Descending and Lincoln Center's mounting of Ivanov with Kevin Kline.

Peter Collier was last seen onstage in City Girls and Desperadoes (Secret Theatre). Other credits: Henry V (Gallery Players),Macbeth, Richard iii (Secret Theatre), The Skin of Our Teeth (Articulate Theatre Co), A Thousand Deaths, I, Horatio (New York Fringe Festival, and Chokehold as part of last year's Planet Connections festival for which he won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play. www.petercollierjr.com

David Deblinger Co-founder of Labyrinth Theater has appeared in new plays at Manhattan Theater Club, The Public Theater, Williamstown Theater Festival, The Old Globe and more. On TV he's appeared on "Blue Bloods", "Broad City", "Damages", "SVU", "Sex and the City", "The Sopranos" and the movie, "Clubland," on Showtime.

Dominique Fishback is a TV,Film, & Stage actress currently shooting her second David Simon production and first series regular role on HBO's the "Deuce" with James Franco and Maggie Gyllenhaal. She is also the writer/performer of the innovative theater award nominated solo show Subverted. She is honored to be here performing Jazelle the Gezelle! Dominique-Fishback.com

Craig 'muMs' Grant best know for playing Arnold Jackson AKA 'Poet' on HBO's hit show, "OZ" has been performing on NYC stages for over twenty years. A proud member of the LABrynth Theater Company, he has recently appeared in Lucy Thurber's The Insurgents as well as his own one-man show, A Sucker MC. Other acting credits include, "Birdman"; "Law & Order", "Nurse Jackie", "Blue Bloods" and the "Sopranos" (to name a few). Also a playwright, Poetic Theater Productions recently presented the critically acclaimed world premier of his play, Paradox of the Urban Cliché.

Ed Jewett could most recently be seen in Ethan Lipton's The Barber and The Farmer with Clubbed Thumb. Other works Include: DOT (Clubbed thumb) MIDDLETOWN (Vineyard Theatre), Film: What's Your Number?, World Trade Center, The Night Listener, The Notorious Bettie Page, Television: "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt", "VEEP","Boardwalk Empire","John Adams" (HBO Films)

Felix Monge is incredibly happy and grateful to join Planet Connection Theatre Festivity/Playwright For A Cause. On Your Feet! (standby). Film: "Martial Arts Kid", NYCDA, professional dancer. Special thanks to all my amazing teachers/instructors, IFM, Connect NYC, to all my family and friends who believed in me. Love to mom and dad.

Postell Pringle is a playwright, composer, hip-hop artist and Creative Associate of Q Brothers theater company (Othello: The Remix; Q Brother's Christmas Carol at Chicago Shakespeare Theater). Broadway: A Free Man of Color. Off Broadway/ Regional: The Matchmaker at Goodman Theater, The Urban Retreat at The Public Theater/NYSF; The Seven at New York Theatre Workshop & La Jolla Playhouse; Song for New York at Mabou Mines. He's currently writing a hip-hop musical based on Twelfth Night. @posLuv

Myra Lucretia Taylor received Lucille Lortel and Outer Critics Circle nominations for her role in Danai Gurira's Familiar at Playwrights Horizons this season. Film credits include "The Big Sick", "Bushwick", and "Catfight", all upcoming. TV credits include "Girls" (HBO), and "The Big C" (Showtime). Ms. Taylor is a Fox Fellow.

Planet Connections Theatre Festivity is New York's premiere socially-conscious theatre, music and film festival. The entire festival is aligned to help artists shine a light on the issues facing our society and support the organizations working to make a difference. The 2016 Theatre Festivity will run from June 13th-July 10th at the Paradise Factory (located at 64 East 4th Street between the Bowery and 2nd Avenue), and will also play host to special events at various locations in New York City's East Village. The full lineup for the Festivity will be announced shortly. For more information on Planet Connections visit: www.planetconnections.org.

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