National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts to Wrap MANILOGY Trilogy with BEST MEN Staged Reading, 8/19

The National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts, the only accredited acting school in the Greater Washington Area, announced today that its "Manilogy" reading series - a trilogy of new comedies about men - will conclude with a staged reading of "Best Men" on Monday, August 19, at 7:30 pm. The play was written by local playwrights Mario Baldessari and Chris Stezin, and the reading is being directed by WSC Avant Bard Artistic Director Tom Prewitt.

"Best Men" is the story of two estranged best friends from college - one straight, one gay - who are unexpectedly reunited by their spouses. Their rocky reunion, which begins in earnest in a hospital waiting room, takes them tumbling through the past, as they fight their way through memories, lies and revelations, back to the river bank where their friendship ended 20 years ago.

The reading, which is free to the public, will be held at 7:30 pm in the Conservatory's black-box theater. Doors open at 7:00. More information on the reading is available here: www.theconservatory.org/now-playing.html. The first play in the series, "Fidelity Drumming," was read in March. The second play, "The Thing about My Brother," in June.

The Conservatory is located in the heart of Georgetown at 1556 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Detailed directions here: www.theconservatory.org/directions.html.

As an accredited actor-training academy, the Conservatory operates under the oversight of the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, and the US Department of Education; and its students are eligible to receive federal student loans and grants. The Conservatory's two-year, intensive, actor-training program - which is firmly rooted in the teachings of Michael Chekhov, Michel Saint-Denis and Constantin Stanislavsky - provides students with 1,800 hours of instruction, practice and rehearsal in 16 months. The Conservatory's faculty consists of actors, directors and playwrights who are actively employed in the DC-area theater and film community. The Conservatory has been training people for careers in acting since 1975.