Cerveris, Margulies, Strathairn Set for 'At War' Reading

Artistic Directors Jessica Blank, Erica Gould and Audrey Rosenberg announced today the launch of The Salon Series, staged readings of new plays that address compelling contemporary issues, followed by food, drink and intimate discussion among the artists, audience and noteworthy guest speakers. The inaugural event in the series, "At War: American Playwrights Respond to Iraq," will take place on Monday, June 25th at 6:30 PM at the National Arts Club (15 Gramercy Park South).

"At War" will comprise original theatrical material written by noted American Playwrights including Jose Rivera and The Exonerated's Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, woven together to present a kaleidoscope of views on the war in Iraq.  The presentation will feature a cast of marquis performers and established NY actors, including Michael Cerveris (Sweeney Todd, Love Musik), Julianna Margulies ("ER," "The Sopranos"), and David Strathairn (Good Night and Good Luck, Passion Fish) with others to be announced soon. "At War" will be directed by Erica Gould (Neil LaBute's autobahn, Jose Rivera's Brainpeople.)

The theatrical presentation will be followed by food, drink, and a discussion with the artists and the evening's guest speakers: Iraq war veteran, writer, and activist Paul Rieckhoff (Executive Director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) and author of the book Chasing Ghosts) and Mark Crispin Miller (Professor of Media Studies, NYU, and author of Mad Scientists (a study of war propaganda), and Fooled Again: How the Right Stole the 2004 Elections).  They will be joined by a representative from Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict (www.civicworldwide.org), which provides humanitarian aid to civilian victims in Iraq.

Upcoming Salon Series events include:

- "The Theatre of Deception: Media Manipulation and American Politics"  - an evening with Janeane Garofalo and friends

- "Box Americana:  Playwright Jason Grote takes a biting and comic look at Walmart, late capitalism, and 'The American Dream'"

- "Video Games, Violence and Digital Culture: An Evening of New Work"

- "Bonfire of the Vanities:" The Fire Dept Salon Series takes on race, class, and the morality of money in this new music-theatre adaptation of the Tom Wolfe novel from composer Stefania de Kenessey

The Fire Dept was founded in the spring of 2006 by Jessica Blank, Erica Gould, and Audrey Rosenberg. The company is made up of established and emerging writers, directors, actors and designers who have come together to create and produce work that cannot be replicated inside a television box or on a movie screen. The Fire Dept "is dedicated to producing invigorating, visceral theatre that not only entertains, but also wrestles with questions of importance to our society and our world.  The work of The Fire Dept combines the rigor and structure of great narrative storytelling with the vitality of formal experimentation to immerse audiences in a total experience that leaves them awake, alive and transformed," state press notes.

Tickets for "At War: American Playwrights Respond to Iraq" are $35 and are available through Theatermania at 212-352-3101 or 1-866-811-4111 and www.theatermania.com.  For casting updates and more detailed information about The Fire Dept and The Salon Series, please go to www.thefiredept.org.

A portion of the proceeds for the evening will be donated to Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict.

Photo of Julianna Margulies by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

 

Test and expand your Broadway knowledge with our new game - The Broadway Match-Up! How well do you know your Broadway casting trivia?	Play the Daily Game, explore current shows, and delve into past decades like the 2000s, 80s, and the Golden Age. Challenge your friends and see where you rank!
How well do you know your Tony Awards history? Take our never-ending quiz of nominations and winner history and challenge your friends.	Can you beat your friends? Play today’s daily Broadway word game, featuring a new theatrically inspired word or phrase every day!