Peter Gallagher Joins PLAYING ON AIR Benefit This Month at BRIC

Public radio show and podcast PLAYING ON AIR, which features live recordings of short American plays, returns to BRIC House (647 Fulton Street in Downtown Brooklyn) on December 7 at 7:30pm with three shorts by David Auburn, Max Baker and Jessica Dickey, all recorded live. And the show just announced the addition of award-winning actor Peter Gallagher ("American Beauty," TV's "The O.C.") to its impressive roster of talent performing at their annual benefit for the organization.

Gallagher will join Emmy Award-Winning actor, Bobby Cannavale (TV's "Boardwalk Empire," "Blue Jasmine"), Brandon J. Dirden (Tony Award-winning Broadway actor, "All the Way"), Jason Dirden (Tyler Perry's "House of Payne"), Jay O. Sanders ("Green Lantern," "JFK"), Paul Thureen ("Thinking...,TV's "Jack In A Box") and Will Dagger ("Parking Wars, "TV's Ink Master").

Each play will be followed by a conversation with its playwright, cast and director, led by Playingonair.org's founder and artistic producer, Claudia Catania. "We are unique in that we record and share the work of contemporary theater's best practitioners with new audiences, including those with limited access, time or cash," says Catania. "We want to showcase a wide variety of voices. The short play form, which is rarely produced professionally, jives perfectly with the rhythms of radio and internet listening."

Says playwright David Auburn, "The process of putting these plays up live is a lot of fun. It's pickup basketball, but with NBA players -- people operating at extremely high levels."

Catania continues, "Radio and on-line performances invite audiences to use their imagination. Ultimately we want to cultivate future audiences for the theater, as well as future artists."

Original music is composed for every play by series composer Tom Kochan. John Kilgore lends his sound design and recording expertise.

Benefit tickets are available for $100, and include premium reserved seating and a post-show reception where audience members can meet the artists. Visit playingonair.org or call 925-658-2439 for tickets. General admission tickets for performance only are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. To purchase, call 718-683-5600, or visit bricartsmedia.org. BRIC is located at 647 Fulton Street in Downtown Brooklyn.

Program Details:

2 Dads
Written by David Auburn
Featuring Bobby Cannavale, Peter Gallagher
Directed by Claudia Weill

The Wonderful Thanksgiving Violet
Written by Max Baker
Featuring Brandon J. Dirden, Jason Dirden
Directed by Carrie Preston

The Press Conference
Written by Jessica Dickey
Featuring Will Dagger, Paul Thureen, Jay O. Sanders
Directed by Judith Ivey

PLAYING ON AIR is a public radio show and podcast featuring live recordings of the finest contemporary 10-20 minute American plays. We have produced short plays by Lynn Nottage, Beth Henley, Christopher Durang, David Lindsay-Abaire, David Ives, John Patrick Shanley and more. A dynamic roster of actors has taken part so far, including Chris Cooper, Hope Davis, Jesse Eisenberg, Julie White, Bill Irwin, Jane Krakowski, Michael Stuhlbarg, Steven Boyer, John Leguizamo, Audra McDonald, Debra Monk, Rosie Perez and Jerry Stiller. Our participants have received dozens of major awards, including Pulitzer Prizes, Tony Awards and Oscars. A show archive and production history are available online at playingonair.org.

Since launching in June of 2012, PLAYING ON AIR has produced and recorded 60 plays. It has aired on 43 public radio stations and affiliates in 14 states across the country. The programs are distributed by PRX, the public radio exchange for independently produced radio content.

BRIC is the leading presenter of free cultural programming in Brooklyn, and one of the largest in New York City. The organization presents and incubates work by artists and media-makers that reflects the diversity of New York. BRIC programs reach hundreds of thousands of people each year.

BRIC's main venue, BRIC Arts | Media House, offers a public media center, a major contemporary art exhibition space, two performance spaces, a glass-walled TV studio and artist work spaces. Learn more at BRICartsmedia.org.

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