Kudisch, Foa, Etc. Set for Project Shaw's 'Other Island'

A starry cast--including Marc Kudisch (See What I Wanna See, Assassins), Barrett Foa (Spelling Bee, Avenue Q), Brian Murray (The Rivals, The Crucible) and Kate Baldwin (White Christmas, Wonderful Town)--will headline the latest staged reading to be presented as part of Project Shaw. John Bull's Other Island will be presented on July 17th at the Players Club.

Joining Kudisch (as Tom Broadbent), Foa (as Patsy Farrell), Murray (as Keegan) and Baldwin (as Nora) in the seventh entry in the ambitious George Bernard Shaw play series will be Victor Slezak (Larry Doyle), Adam Feldman (Tim Haffigan), Simon Kendall (Hodson), John Keating (Father Dempsey), Merwin Goldsmith (Corney Doyle), John Martello (Barney Doran), Malachy McCourt (Matthew Haffigan), Mary Carver (Aunt Judy), and Charlotte Moore (Narrator).

"Capitalists vs. socialists, national identity, separatists, free trade, cultural domination, Liberals vs. Tories?nothing much seems to have changed. More than 100 years ago, George Bernard Shaw tackled these themes in his comedy of Ireland. Broadbent, an English entrepreneur, wants his syndicate to convert Irish farmland into golf courses, luxury hotels and suburban housing. Ancient monuments would become tourist attractions. Tourism would replace farming. Is he creating Las Vegas in Ireland?," state press notes.

Project Shaw--which aims to encompass all plays (long and short) by the legendary Irish playwright--is captained by David Staller (Mrs. Warren's Profession at the Irish Rep), who will also produce and direct the following currently-scheduled plays: The Apple Cart on September 18th, Misalliance on October 23rd, Captain Brassbound's Conversion on November 20th and The Philanderer on December 18th (with more to be announced).

Actors who've already taken part in these readings include: Charlotte Rae, Penny Fuller, Daniel Reichard, Alison Fraser, Paul Hecht, Peter Yonka, Liz Morton, Laura Odeh, Fritz Weaver, Malcolm Gets, Michele Pawk, Marc Kudisch, Rebecca Luker, Max von Essen, Victor Slezak, Charlotte Moore, Malachy McCourt, George S. Irving, Paxton Whitehead, Nancy Anderson, Cynthia Harris, Kate Baldwin, Jonathan Freeman and Simon Jones. The readings have been introduced by various men of the theatre including Howard Kissel and John Simon.

Among the actors who've promised to take roles in the ambitious 2-year program are Tyne Daly, Rosemary Harris, Marian Seldes, Philip Bosco, Brian Murray, Veanne Cox, Raul Esparza, Michael Cerveris, Olympia Dukakis, Ed Dixon, Tony Roberts, Richard Kind and Martin Moran.

"The Irish born Shaw, who died at age 94 in 1950, is one of the most prolific writers of plays, books and treatises in the English language. His unyielding stand for human rights, particularly for women'ss rights, has become legendary. He encouraged general political awareness and the need for people to take responsibility for their own lives."

For reservations, call The Players Club at (212) 475-6116 or visit Projectshaw.com.