Ed Dixon and Brad Gardner Photo

From: Photo Coverage: Inside Project Shaw's THE PORTRAIT OF MR. W. H. Reading

Gingold Theatrical Group's PROJECT SHAW, under the leadership of Founding Artistic Director David Staller, presents Oscar Wilde's short mystery, The Portrait of Mr. W. H., on Monday, April 14 at 7pm, at Symphony Space's Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre (2895 Broadway at 95th St.). Adapted and directed by David Staller, The Portrait of Mr. W. H. features Tony nominee Daniel Davis (Sir George Erskine), Wesley Taylor (Mr. Cyril Graham), Josh Grisetti (Basil), and Bill Kux (Shakespeare). The evening will also feature a musical interlude by Tony winner George S. Irving. Stepping away from Shaw for the first time, Gingold Theatrical Group's PROJECT SHAW presents an adaptation of Oscar Wilde's notorious short story that offers a theory about whom Shakespeare might truly have written his infamous Sonnets about. In Wilde's hands, the inspiration for the world's most famous poems is a beautiful young actor in Shakespeare's company. In attempting to prove this theory, a pair of men face their most secret fears and even death. Shaw and Wilde were friends, often inspiring each other with their work. In Wilde's most turbulent year, 1895 -the year of both The Importance of Being Ernest and his subsequent trial, Shaw helped finance Wilde's legal defense, and later was one of the only journalists determined to keep Wilde's name as a major artist in the press. Project Shaw events for 2014 include Heartbreak House (May 12), Getting Married (June 23), A 'Super Shaw' Evening (July 28), Village Wooing (September 29), An Ibsen Evening (October 27), The Millionairess (November 24) Major Barbara (December 22).