Nikki M. James Leads Project Shaw's SAINT JOAN Tonight

Gingold Theatrical Group's PROJECT SHAW presents SAINT JOAN - George Bernard Shaw's most celebrated play, today, December 17 at 7pm at The Players Club (16 Gramercy Park South) in Manhattan. David Staller produces and directs.

Now finishing its seventh sold-out year, Gingold Theatrical Group's PROJECT SHAW made history in December 2009 as the first company ever to present every play (including full-length works, one-acts and sketches) written by George Bernard Shaw.

SAINT JOAN: Written in 1923, three years after Joan was finally canonized, this is the play that won Shaw the Pulitzer Prize. The play employs Shaw's more witty uses of irony in his storytelling. He takes us on a breathtaking ride from Joan's first battle to rid France of the English, to her infamous trial. In Shaw's hands, Joan becomes a fully human young woman determined to live life battling not only the English, but also the constraints men have placed upon women in society.

The cast features Nikki M. James as Joan; with Fritz Weaver as Cauchon; Tony Sheldon as The Inquisitor; Simon Jones as Warwick,; Josh Grisetti as The Dauphin; Jim Brochu as Tremoille; Matthew Saldivar as Dunois; Robert Stanton as the Archbishop; James Beaman as Ladvenue; Rory Duffy as the Steward; Daniel Marconi as the Page; Conan McCarty as Coucelles; Ron McClary as The Executioner; Max Gordon Moore as Stogumber; Bruch Reed as Bluebeard; Jeff Ronan as Poulengey; Michael McCorry Rose as D'Estivet; Michael Selkirk as Baudricourt; and Brian Sgambati as La Hire. Roberta Maxwell narrates. Roma Torre of New York 1 is the evening's guest host.

David Staller produces and directs all of the PROJECT SHAW readings.

For reservations to PROJECT SHAW: SAINT JOAN on Monday, December 17 at 7pm at The Players Club (16 Gramercy Park South), call Theatermania, 212-352-3101 or visit www.PROJECTSHAW.com. All seats are $30. Tickets for PROJECT SHAW performances are always available the first of every month.

Performances are at The Players Club, 16 Gramercy Park South and open to the public. It's a rare opportunity to experience the inside of one of New York's grandest of old mansions, built in the 1840's, and filled with priceless theatrical memorabilia including portraits by many world-renowned artists. The Players Club 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.

The Gingold Theatrical Group began its history-making PROJECT SHAW on Monday, January 23, 2006 with concert reading of the author's ARMS AND THE MAN. Over these past seven years, and 77 Monday-night presentations, the readings have played to sold-out crowds at The Players Club and starred some of the theatre's most celebrated actors including Bryan Batt, Reed Birney, Blair Brown, Charles Busch, Michael Cerveris, Veanne Cox, John Cullum, Tyne Daly, Josh Grisetti, Jonathan Groff, Harriet Harris, Jayne Houdyshell, George S. Irving, Judith Ivey, Cheyenne Jackson, Daniel Jenkins, Marc Kudisch, Rebecca Luker, John McMartin, Kate Mulgrew, Megan Mullally, Brian Murray, Lorenzo Pisoni, Jane Powell, Charlotte Rae, Reg Rogers, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Marian Seldes, Carol Shelley, Emily Skinner, Fritz Weaver, and Karen Ziemba.

Each PROJECT SHAW reading is produced and directed by David Staller, who founded the Gingold Theatrical Group in 2006. His inspiration to create the series was in direct response to the re-election of former President Bush. As all of Shaw's plays deal with human rights and the inexorable power of the individual, the time seemed right. As is evidenced by the results of many recent elections, the times are still in vibrant need for Shaw's entertainingly demanding call for human rights for all individuals. In addition to directing, Mr. Staller judiciously edits each play, consulting every available version of the author's plays, notes and letters to create the most comprehensive version for the concert reading.

As Shaw began his theatrical life as a critic, (and since PROJECT SHAW concert readings are not open to reviews), members of the press have also been involved in each reading. Among those who have introduced or acted include Mark Blankenship, David Belcher, David Cote, Gordon Cox, Frank DiLella, Joe Dziemianowicz, Adam Feldman, Michael Feingold, Peter Filichia, David Finkle, Jesse Green, Eric Grode, Patrick Healy, Charles Isherwood, Donna Karger, Howard Kissel, Brendan Lemon, Ruth Leon, Brian Scott Lipton, Jeremy McCarter, Michael Musto, Jesse Oxfeld, Patrick Pacheco, Andy Propst, Rex Reed, Michael Riedel, David Rooney, Frank Scheck, Michael Schulman, David Sheward, John Simon, Raven Snook, Alexis Soloski, Roma Torre, Elisabeth Vincentelli, and Jason Zinoman.

Earlier this year Gingold Theatrical Group successfully launched SHAW NEW YORK, with its acclaimed production of MAN AND SUPERMAN at The Irish Repertory Theatre.

Gingold Theatrical Group (GTG) is also producing a new play development program. Named for one of Shaw' inflammatory one-acts, PRESS CUTTINGS. The writers in this program are currently on-staff critics or journalists devoted to covering the theater scene. These plays will be developed in a workshop process. These plays are to focus on the Shavian precepts involving individual human rights, political and social responsibility and the comic absurdity of daily life.

GTG engages in educational programs, most notably with the Lighthouse International Saturday morning program, which promotes the Shavian precepts to inner-city teens. Gingold Theatrical Group was recently honored for its work with a grant from The Hollywood Foreign Press Association's Charitable Trust.

For more information, visit www.projectshaw.com.