Louis Cancelmi, Dashiell Eaves, et al. Join Olympia Dukakis and Austin Pendleton in KING LEAR

HERO Theatre announced today that the cast of the "King Lear" benefit staged reading starring Olympia Dukakis and directed by Austin Pendleton will include Louis Cancelmi (Sarah Kane's "Blasted" at Soho Rep), Lynn Cohen ("Sex and the City," Tina Howe's "Chasing Manet'), Dashiell Eaves ("Becky Shaw", "A Behanding In Spokane"), Paul Lazar (Classic Stage Company's "Three Sisters", "Silence of the Lambs") and George Morfogen ("Freud's Last Session", CSC's "Three Sisters", and HBO's "OZ"). The cast also includes Elisa Bocanegra, Seth Duerr, Korey Jackson, Albert Jones, Thomas Kopache, James Martinez, Desirée Matthews, Anya Migdal, Liam Mitchell and Bobby Plasencia.

The reading will be held on Monday, May 21st at 7:30PM at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre/Laura Pels Theatre, 111 West 46th Street, New York City. Academy Award-winner Olympia Dukakis will play the title role and acclaimed director Austin Pendleton will direct.

Ms. Dukakis is Chair of HERO Theatre's Advisory Board. Other members include Michael Ritchie (Artistic Director of the Center Theatre Group), Jenny Gersten (Artistic Director of the Williamstown Theatre Festival), Bill Rauch (Artistic Director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival), esteemed director Michael Wilson, 2012 Tony-nominee Michael Cumpsty, playwright Migdalia Cruz, writer Tatyana Tolstaya and Judy Bowman of Judy Bowman Casting.

HERO Theatre was founded in August 2011 by Elisa Bocanegra, Artistic Director, and Producing Director, Anya Migdal. The bicoastal theatre company consists of some of today's most notable and emerging artists from diverse backgrounds and training in stage, television and film. HERO Theatre's mission is to build bridges between cultures by way of the classics.

This performance is part of HERO's fundraising efforts to present its first full-scale production, a world-premiere of a new translation of Anton Chekhov's "Three Sisters", translated by noted Russian writer Tatyana Tolstaya and distinguished playwright Migdalia Cruz.

For more information about HERO Theatre and ticket information, visit www.HEROtheatre.org.