Mays, Murray, Stuhlbart, Etc. Set for 4/9 Maugham Reading

Maria Aitken, director of London's Olivier-winning Best New Comedy, will bring an all star ensemble of Broadway actors to the stage of the Laura Pels Theatre on Monday, April 9th at 7pm as The Acting Company presents a benefit staged reading of W. Somerset Maugham's For Services Rendered.

"Now acclaimed as one of the best plays of his career, it initially shocked audiences by chronicling the devastating impact of World War I on an English family. Maugham, who had previously been praised for his adept and entertaining storytelling skill, had not prepared his audience for this departure," state press materials.

Jefferson Mays (Journey's End, Tony-winner for I Am My Own Wife), Roberta Maxwell (Madras House), Brian Murray (The Rivals), Jay O. Sanders (Stuff Happens), Michael Stuhlbarg and Samantha Soule (Voysey Inheritance), Paxton Whitehead (Absurd Person Singular), Lisa Banes (Present Laughter/Huntington Theater), Francesca Faridany, Susan Lyons and Daniel Gerroll will head the cast.

Funds raised by this staged reading will underwrite education programs for The Acting Company's upcoming New York Season. Founded in 1972 by John Houseman and current Producing Artistic Director, Margot Harley, The Acting Company is currently on national tour with Polly Teale's critically acclaimed adaptation of Jane Eyre, which will reach New York on April 23 for a two-week run at the Baruch Performing Arts Center. 

Kevin Kline, Patti LuPone, Rainn Wilson, Jeffrey Wright, Frances Conroy, Jesse L. Martin – as well as For Services Rendered cast member Lisa Banes – all began their careers on tour with The Acting Company, which has presented 125 productions in 48 states and ten foreign countries while winning Obie, Audelco, Los Angeles Critics Circle Awards and a Tony for Excellence in the Theater.

The Laura Pels Theatre is located at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for the Theatre (111 West 46th Street – off 6th Avenue).  Tickets are $60 and $35 (Orchestra); $25 (Mezzanine) from 212-258-3111.   A reception with the director and actors follows the performance.

Photo of Jefferson Mays by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.