Dominick Dunne Lends 'Voice' to Transport Group's 'BEING AUDREY'

Transport Group, the winner of a special 2007 Drama Desk Award and a 2007 Obie Award, has announced that celebrated journalist, novelist, and producer Dominick Dunne will provide voice-over narration for the world premiere musical, Being Audrey, which begins performances Friday, March 27, at 8pm at 220 East 4 Street, between Avenues A and B. The opening is set for Sunday, April 5, at 3pm.

In Being Audrey, Claire Stark is the New York woman who has it all: a fabulous life, the husband of her dreams, and a view of Tiffany's from her Fifth Avenue apartment. When calamity strikes and her fairytale world threatens to collapse, Claire seeks refuge in her imagination, where she embarks on a hilarious, romantic adventure inspired by the films of her heroine, Audrey Hepburn. As she assumes Hepburn's characters in the classic films Roman Holiday, Funny Face, Love in the Afternoon, Sabrina, and Breakfast at Tiffany's, Claire's fantastical escape appears complete until she must confront the reality of what she stands to lose. Being Audrey celebrates the variety of life and the themes embodied by one of America's most beloved and enduring movie stars.

Dominick Dunne has been a special correspondent for Vanity Fair since 1993, having joined the magazine in 1984 as a contributing editor. From actors and artists, to politicians, business leaders and international newsmakers, Dunne has kept his readers entertained and informed with his trademark wit, cynicism and commentary. In addition to profiles on personalities such as Imelda Marcos, Robert Mapplethorpe, ElizaBeth Taylor, Claus von Bulow, and Warren Beatty, he has also covered the trials of Michael Skakel, William Kennedy Smith, the Menendez brothers, O. J. Simpson, and the impeachment of President Bill Clinton. Dominick Dunne also serves as the guide for Dominick Dunne's Power, Privilege and Justice, the documentary series on TruTV, which profiles a selection of high profile crimes. Dunne began his career in New York City as the stage manager of The Howdy Doody Show. In 1957 he moved to Hollywood and became the executive producer of the television series Adventures in Paradise. Dunne later served as the president of Four Star, a television company owned by David Niven, Dick Powell, and Charles Boyer. He moved on to producing feature films, including The Boys in the Band, Panic in Needle Park, Play It as It Lays, and Ash Wednesday.. As a best-selling novelist, his books include The Two Mrs. Grenvilles, Fatal Charms, People Like Us, An Inconvenient Woman, and A Season in Purgator. Both The Two Mrs. Grenvilles and A Season in Purgatory were made into movies for television. His memoir, The Way We Lived Then: Recollections of a Well-Known Name Dropper , was published in the fall of 1999. While living in Hollywood, he was lucky enough to call Audrey Hepburn a friend.

Being Audrey has music and lyrics by Ellen Weiss; book by James Hindman; and additional book and lyrics by Cheryl Stern; is developed with Jack Cummings III and Adam R. Perlman; musical direction, arrangements, and orchestrations are by Lanny Meyers; musical staging and choreography are by Scott Rink; and is directed by Jack Cummings III.

Being Audrey plays Thursday and Friday at 8pm; Saturday at 2pm and 8pm; Sunday at 3pm, and Monday at 7pm through April 26 at 220 East 4 Street, between Avenues A & B (6 to Astor Place, W/N to 8th Street or F/V to Second Avenue). There will be an added performance on Wednesday, April 1 at 8pm and the performance on Saturday, April 4 will have an early curtain at 7pm. Tickets, which are $38 - $45, are available at www.transportgroup.org or by phoning (212) 564-0333 or TheaterMania at (212) 352-3101.

For more information about Transport Group, visit www.transportgroup.org. Get the behind-the-scenes story on the creation of Being Audrey at www.beingaudrey.blogspot.com.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

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