Zeljko Ivanek Joins Cast of Acting Company Reading

The Acting Company presents two one-night-only salon readings of new works from Tom Fontana and David Manis at New York's Theatre at St. Clement's (423 West 46th Street). On Monday, January 29, Fontana's Screenplay By Stalin- following two writers commissioned by Stalin to write of his biopic-will be read. Pretending to Be Danish, Manis's collection of short plays about performing Shakespeare (directed by Richard Hamburger), will be read on Monday, February 12. Zeljko Ivanek will be joining the cast of the first Monday night reading on Jan 29.

Screenplay By Stalin, a timely work with notes of Beckett from Tom Fontana (creator of HBO's acclaimed series Oz), focuses on two screenwriters as it hilariously tackles the ever-relevant issue of censorship. Vasilij and Fyodor know they have an important job to do, and know they'll be needing a lot of vodka to do it: for they have been given the not-so-easy task of creating a biographical screenplay that will flatter their employer and subject, Joseph Stalin. Laura Savia, associate artistic director of Williamstown Theater Festival, directs a cast including Dean Winters (Oz, Rescue Me), Lee Tergesen (Oz), and Leslie Fray.

With Pretending to Be Danish, Dakin Matthews (Waitress), Kaliswa Brewster (The Acting Company's Romeo and Juliet), Liv Rooth (Desire), Robert Stanton (A Free Man of Color), and more lead a delightful evening of short plays asking: "What's it like performing Shakespeare today?" Misconceived "concepts," attractions to co-stars, nervous school boards, memory problems, and the difficulties of walking like royalty from centuries ago are just a few of the challenges awaiting those who dare to take on Shakespeare in 2018, in this series of shorts from actor David Manis (War Horse, A Free Man of Color).

Tickets and Schedule

The reading of Screenplay By Stalin takes place Monday, January 29 at 7:00pm, and Pretending to Be Danish will take place at 7:00pm on Monday, February 12. General admission tickets for each are $10. They can be purchased at http://theactingcompany.org/in-new-york/salon-readings/ or by phone at (212) 258-3111.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos