Project Shaw to Present THE SHEWING-UP OF BLANCO POSNET 12/19

Gingold Theatrical Group's PROJECT SHAW presents THE SHEWING-UP OF BLANCO POSNET – a cowboy comedy by George Bernard Shaw – on Monday, December 19 at 7pm at The Players Club (16 Gramercy Park South) in Manhattan. David Staller produces and directs.

Now in its sixth sold-out year, Gingold Theatrical Group's PROJECT SHAW made history in December 2009 as the first company ever to present every play (including full-length works, one-acts and sketches) written by George Bernard Shaw.

THE SHEWING-UP OF BLANCO POSNET is Shaw's cowboy mystery/comedy that takes place in the Wild Old American West. The town is ready to hang Blanco Posnet as a horse thief before a mysterious stranger appears.

The evening will also feature a short Shaw rarity: PASSION PLAY – Shaw's unfinished first attempt at playwriting. Never before performed in New York, his very short play is about Jesus, Judas and the whole gang, but with a distinctly unusual Shavian perspective.

The cast includes Daphne Rubin-Vega (RENT, ANNA IN THE TROPICS), Andre De Shields (THE FULL MONTY, AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'), Ty Jones (ENRON), Wilson Jermaine Heredia (LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, RENT), Sharon Washington (THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS), Time Out New York journalist Adam Feldman, Nick Corley (MARY POPPINS), Cheryl Freeman (THE CIVIL WAR), Nora Chester,
MaryLee Martin, Panchali Null (RAGTIME), Daryl Lathon, Ariel Estrada (SHOGUN MACBETH), James Rana (SHOGUN MACBETH), and Diane Stilwell Weinberg, with Susan Aquila on the fiddle.

PROJECT SHAW continues in 2012 with the following events: January 23: BACK TO METHUSELAH (PART ONE); February 27: BACK TO METHUSELAH (PART TWO); Saturday, March 17: GTG ST. PATRICK'S DAY GALA; April 23: WIDOWERS' HOUSES; May 21: IN GOOD KING CHARLES'S GOLDEN DAYS; June 18: THE APPLE CART; July 16: GENEVA; September 24: THE DEVIL'S DISCIPLE;
October 22: BUOYANT BILLIONS; November 19: PYGMALION; December 17: SAINT JOAN.

David Staller produces and directs all of the PROJECT SHAW readings.

For reservations to PROJECT SHAW: THE SHEW-ING UP OF BLANCO POSNET on Monday, December 19 at 7pm at The Players Club (16 Gramercy Park South), call TheaterMania at 212-352-3101 or visit www.PROJECTSHAW.com. All seats are $25. Tickets for PROJECT SHAW performances are always available after the first of every month.

Performances at The Players Club, 16 Gramercy Park South. All PROJECT

SHAW readings are open to the public. It's a rare opportunity to experience the inside of one of New York's grandest of old mansions, built in the 1840's, and filled with priceless theatrical memorabilia including portraits by John Singer Sargent. The Players Club is New York's most legendary private club. The former residence of Edwin Booth, it became a club for those interested in the arts in 1888.

The Gingold Theatrical Group began its history-making PROJECT SHAW on Monday, January 23, 2006 with concert reading of the author's ARMS AND THE MAN. Over these past six years, and 66 Monday-night presentations, the readings have played to sold-out crowds at The Players Club and
starred some of the theatre's most celebrated actors including Bryan Batt, Reed Birney, Blair Brown, Charles Busch, Michael Cerveris, Veanne Cox, John Cullum, Tyne Daly, Josh Grisetti, Jonathan Groff, Harriet Harris, Jayne Houdyshell, George S. Irving, Judith Ivey, Cheyenne Jackson, Daniel Jenkins, Marc Kudisch, Rebecca Luker, John McMartin, Kate Mulgrew, Megan Mullally, Brian Murray, Lorenzo Pisoni, Jane Powell, Charlotte Rae, Reg Rogers, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Marian Seldes, Carol Shelley, Emily Skinner, Fritz Weaver, and Karen Ziemba.

Each PROJECT SHAW reading is produced and directed by David Staller, who founded the Gingold Theatrical Group. His inspiration to create the series was in direct response to the re-election of former President Bush. As all of Shaw's plays deal with human rights and the inexorable power of the individual, the time seemed right. As is evidenced by the results of many recent elections, the times are still in vibrant need for Shaw's entertainingly demanding call for human rights for all individuals. In addition to directing, Mr. Staller judiciously edits each play, consulting every available version of the author's plays, notes and letters to create the most comprehensive version for the concert reading.

As Shaw began his theatrical life as a critic, (and since PROJECT SHAW concert readings are not open to reviews), members of the press have also been involved in each reading. Among those who have introduced or acted include Mark Blankenship, David Belcher, David Cote, Gordon Cox,
Frank DiLella, Joe Dziemianowicz, Adam Feldman, Michael Feingold, Peter Filichia, David Finkle, Jesse Green, Eric Grode, Patrick Healy, Charles Isherwood, Howard Kissel, Brendan Lemon, Ruth Leon, Brian Scott Lipton, Jeremy McCarter, Michael Musto, Jesse Oxfeld, PatrickPacheco, Andy Propst, Rex Reed, Michael Riedel, David Rooney, Frank Scheck, Michael Schulman, David Sheward, John Simon, Raven Snook, Alexis Soloski, Roma Torre, Elisabeth Vincentelli, and Jason Zinoman.

Gingold Theatrical Group's plans include expanding the immensely successful PROJECT SHAW concert readings into fully mounted productions. GTG is looking forward to launching SHAW New York. SHAW NY will be an annual theatrical event consisting of two fully mounted
Shaw plays at its heart, as well a mix of other Shavian themEd Smaller events, becoming the anchor program of Gingold Theatrical Group.

In addition, Gingold Theatrical Group (GTG) is also producing a successful new play development program. Named for one of Shaw' inflammatory one-acts, PRESS CUTTINGS: THE NEW PLAYS. The writers are currently on-staff critics or journalists devoted to covering the theater scene. These plays will be developed in a yearlong workshop process. Once their own theatre space is secured, GTG will be presenting a full season including two fully mounted Shaw plays and at least one new play. These plays are to focus on the Shavian precepts involving individual human rights, political and social responsibility and the comic absurdity of daily life. GTG also engages in educational
programs, most notably with the Lighthouse International Saturday morning program, which promotes the Shavian precepts to inner-city teens.

For more information, visit www.projectshaw.com