Stephen McKinley Henderson Makes Special Appearances at Albright-Knox Auditorium, 4/30 & 5/14

Buffalo native, Broadway actor and film star Stephen McKinley Henderson will be the guest of honor at a Saturday, April 30, 2011 special event hosted by Road Less Traveled Productions (RLTP). The April 30th event, An Evening with Stephen McKinley Henderson, will feature an intimate look into Henderson's life and work. The event will be held in the Albright-Knox Auditorium in Buffalo, NY and is open to RLTP subscribers as well as the public.

Tony-nominated for his 2010 role alongside Denzel Washington in August Wilson's Fences, Henderson starred as Pontius Pilate in the Off-Broadway world-premiere production of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, a play by 2010-2011 RLTP American Theatre Master Stephen Adly Guirgis. Though Henderson was slated to reprise his role in RLTP's version of the play this Spring, an extended filming schedule will affect his availability over the one-month play run (Henderson is in production with Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Matthew Broderick, Alan Alda and others in the action-comedy film Tower Heist, expected for release in late 2011). To offer stability to the RLTP effort and to demonstrate his firm support for it, RLTP has recast the role and Henderson will appear at the April 30th event. Henderson also will join Guirgis at the RLTP Annual Spring Gala on Saturday, May 14, 2011.

"Stephen's continued commitment to our project and to RLTP, amidst his burgeoning success, is extraordinary," said RLTP Executive Director Scott Behrend. "Based on his desire to identify positive ways to still contribute to the effort, in light of the schedule change, the RLTP audience now will be able to connect with Stephen in an even more intimate manner on multiple occasions. The end result is Stephen's support of the RLTP experience is stronger than ever."

An Evening with Stephen McKinley Henderson will feature an in-depth interview of Henderson by RLTP Co-Founder and Literary Director Jon Elston, who will emcee the event, as well as a special question-and-answer session with the audience. The evening also will include an excerpted sneak-peek reading of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot by Henderson and select RLTP production cast members. RLTP secured the Albright-Knox Auditorium to accommodate the expected high attendance.

"The April 30th event has become a special opportunity - for me, particularly, but also very much for our patrons," said RLTP's Jon Elston. "The chance to speak with Stephen McKinley Henderson for a couple of hours, and to learn from him and his amazing career, is one that no theatre fan in Western New York should pass up!"

"The addition of Stephen to our Gala event in May also is unprecedented," added Behrend. "All in attendance at the Gala will have an opportunity to enjoy the play as well as interact both with the playwright and the original star. Around here, we're calling it the 'Night of the Two Stephens' and, believe me, we each already know how magical a night it will be."

Behrend will direct RLTP's production of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, a modern take on the trial of Judas Iscariot. Artie Award-nominee Roland Gomez has been cast to take Henderson's place in the role of Pontius Pilate. Joining the ensemble cast will be acclaimed Buffalo actor Brian Riggs in the role of El Fayoumy. Riggs will play opposite Artie Award-winner Lisa Vitrano, RLTP Resident Actress and playwright, currently starring on the RLTP stage in her one-woman show, Bitch Bares All.

An Evening with Stephen McKinley Henderson will begin at 8:00PM on April 30th in the Albright-Knox Auditorium. General admission tickets are $25. RLTP regular subscriber admission is $15. RLTP Gala subscriber admission is free. RLTP subscribers wishing to purchase a May 14th Gala ticket can do so for $75 and gain free admission to the April 30th event. The Last Days of Judas Iscariot will run April 22nd through May 22nd. Tickets for all plays and events are available at The Road Less Traveled Theater Box Office, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling 800-745-3000. The Road Less Traveled Theater is located at 639 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14205 (inside the Market Arcade Film & Arts Centre).

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos