Charles Durning, Wendy Malick, Michael Urie, and Jessica Chastain star in a staged reading of Dawn O'Leary's A Delicate Arrangement, Monday, September 10, at 8 p.m. at The Hayworth Theater. Directed by Dan Lauria, A Delicate Arrangement, is a production of The Hayworth Theatre's popular Bruno Kirby Celebrity Reading Series.
A Delicate Arrangement revolves around a struggling young actor, "Aldo Calabrese" ("Ugly Betty's" Michael Urie) who is hired by "John Canfield" (Charles Durning -- "One Fine Day," "Spy Hard," "Dog Day Afternoon"), an art specialist, for an unusual job, based on "Aldo's" one qualification: He bears an uncanny resemblance to one of the century's greatest painters, Gabriel Delgado, when Delgado was a young man. It seems that "Canfield" has come to doubt the authenticity of some of the painter's work. Having no avenues of research left, he wants to get information from Delgado's widow, "Helen Gavros" (Wendie Malick -- "Dream On," "Just Shoot Me," "The American President"). But "Helen," who had loved her husband deeply, is a recluse and will talk to no one. "Canfield" hopes she'll be so struck by "Aldo's" appearance that she'll talk to him. The plan works. But it takes on a life of its own, as the wise, strong yet vulnerable "Helen" becomes "Aldo's" mentor - threatening his relationship with his artist girlfriend "Lucy" (Jessica Chastain – "Salomaybe?" Written/directed by Al Pacino), who reacts quite differently to the startling information he acquires for "Canfield."
Playwright, Dawn O'Leary has written television movies for CBS, NBC Universal, ABC/Disney, Lifetime, Hallmark and USA Network.
Charles Durning has been nominated twice for the Academy Award for his roles in "To Be Or Not To Be" and "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas . " He also received a Tony Award for his performance in the Broadway revival of "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof." Previously on Broadway in "The Best Man, " and he starred in "The Gin Game" as well as the revival of the classic Lawrence & Lee drama "Inherit the Wind," with
George C. Scott. Durning's extensive motion picture credits include "One Fine Day," "Spy Hard," "The Hudsucker Proxy," "Dick Tracy," "True Confessions," "The Greek Tycoon," "Sharkey's Machine," "Dog Day Afternoon," "Home for the Holidays" and "The Grass Harp." In addition, he was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1998 for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for an episode of "Homicide: Life on the Street." His other notable guest appearances on television include a recurring role on "Everybody Love Raymond," "The Practice," "Cybill" and "Early Edition."
Michael Urie is currently featured on the new smash hit series, "Ugly Betty". Since graduating from Juilliard in 2003, he has appeared theatrically at The Old Globe in San Diego , DC 's The Folger, Seattle Rep, Barrington Stage and South Coast Rep (in Hamlet). In NY, he's worked with The Foundry Theatre, HB Playwrights, Judith Shakespeare, Red Bull Theatre, and HERE. On screen, he can also be seen in the feature film "WTC View."
Two-time Emmy and Golden Globe nominee,
Wendie Malick, is best known for the seven seasons she played the outrageous fashion editor, Nina Van Horn on "Just Shoot Me". She most recently starred as the over org ani zed, mother of the bride in the ABC comedy "Big Day." She starred alongside
John Stamos in the ABC series "Jake in Progress." Malick also garnered four CableACE awards for her portrayal of Judith Tupper Stone on HBO's Comedy Series, "Dream On." Malick also starred in the Warner Brothers' film "Racing Stripes." Other feature films include "The American President," "Jerome," "Scrooged," "On Edge," "Cahoots," "Trojan War," "Funny About Love," "Bugsy," "A Little Sex" and "Mr. Mike's Mondo Video."
Dan Lauria has appeared as a guest star in over seventy television episodic programs and more than twenty Movie Of The Weeks. For ten years Dan served as the artistic director of, The Playwright's Kitchen Ensemble (PKE) of Los Angeles . Dan has most recently performed "The Guys" by Ann Nelson both in NYC and on the road with his dear friend, the wonderful, Ms
Wendie Malick. "The Guys" is a tribute to the brave fireman who lost their lives at the WTC on 9/11 and it's a play that Dan is honored to be a part of. With partner, Joe Cacaci, PKE produced over 450 public readings of new plays with the finest actors in the business in order to promote the development of the new American playwright and to seek literary representation for new writers.
A Delicate Arrangement will be presented on the Main Stage for one performance, September 10, at 8:00 p.m. The Hayworth Theatre is located at 2509 Wilshire Blvd. two blocks east of Rampart near downtown Los Angeles. For tickets visit www.thehayworth.com or call 213-389-9860.
Photos of (1) Michael Urie; (2) Wendy Malick.
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