Photo Coverage: Whoopi Goldberg in Stories Left to Tell
By: Mark Rupp Jun. 06, 2007
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Oscar-winner Whoopi Goldberg (Ghost, Sister Act, The Color Purple; Ma Rainey's Black Bottom on Broadway) was the latest guest actor to step into the acclaimed Naked Angels production of Spalding Gray: Stories Left To Tell. On June 5th, Goldberg performed the role of "Career" in a special benefit performance to celebrate what would have been the late actor/monologist's birthday.
Goldberg was joined by the ensemble cast of Stories Left To Tell, including Kathleen Chalfant, Hazelle Goodman and Frank Wood. The performance benefited several charities and culminated with the presentation of the second annual Spalding Gray Award, an award given to an up-and-coming avant-garde artist or company. The Ross School Award, an annual award presented to one middle school student and one high school student who shows strong skills in writing autobiographical monologues, was also presented.
On June 6th, the birthday festivities continue at 7:00 p.m. at the Chelsea Barnes and Noble (675 Avenue of the Americas), where celebrated authors Michael Cunningham, Jonathan Ames, Jules Feiffer and his wife Jenny Allen, Paul Muldoon, Doug Wright and Philip Lopate will read excerpts from Gray's monologues. Charles Busch hosts the evening.
"Spalding Gray is one of the most revered and irreverent storytellers of our time. He became an indelible image: sitting alone at a desk on a bare stage, delivering hilarious and moving monologues that had a singular resonance with his audiences. Conceived by Russo and directed by Sexton, Spalding Gray: Stories Left To Tell assembles both well-known and never-before-seen work spanning Gray's extraordinary life and career," state press notes. Spalding Gray: Stories Left To Tell features an ensemble cast of five, including a rotating special guest actor. Since the show opened to rave reviews on March 6, many stars have filled the 5th guest actor position. Future guests include "Bones" star David Boreanaz (June 6-10) and "Ugly Betty" star Chris Gorham (June 12-17). The show is produced by Eric Falkenstein and Michael Alden.
Visit www.storieslefttotell.com for tickets and more information.
Whoopi Goldberg and Kathleen Russo (Spalding Gray's widow)
Frank Wood, Ain Gordon and Whoopi Goldberg
Kathleen Chalfant and Hazelle Goodman
Lucy Sexton, Kathleen Chalfant, Hazelle Goodman, Frank Wood, Ain Gordon, Whoopi Goldberg and Kathleen Russo
Kathleen Russo and Bruce Vilanch
Kathleen Russo and Bruce Vilanch
Lucy Sexton and Clinton Kelly of "What Not to Wear"
Lucy Sexton and Clinton Kelly
Lucy Sexton and Clinton Kelly
The company
Kathleen Chalfant and Frank Wood
Hazelle Goodman with her son
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