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Photo Coverage: Project Shaw Presents ON THE ROCKS

Gingold Theatrical Group's PROJECT SHAW -- now in the fourth year of its four-year series --continued its mission of tackling every play George Bernard Shaw ever wrote with its 44th presentation: Shaw's ON THE ROCKS. The production was performed on Monday, November 16 at 7:00pm at The Players Club (16 Gramercy Park South) in Manhattan. David Staller, who has produced and directed all of the concert readings, helmed ON THE ROCKS.

ON THE ROCKS is a heart-warming cocktail about money, greed, politics and sex. This viciously witty 1933 comedy tackles the unthinkable concept of a country in the midst of an economic depression. Unemployment, health care, human rights...the list is endless. It's a riotous
cast of characters, assembled as only possible in the always-surprising imagination of George Bernard Shaw.

The cast for ON THE ROCKS featured Kelli Barrett, Reed Birney, Carole J. Bufford, Ian Gould, Jeffrey Hardy, Jayne Houdyshell, George S. Irving, Tim Jerome, William McCauley, Sal Mistretta, Christine Pedi, Rames Rana, Jeff Steitzer, Joel Van Liew, Daine Stillwell Weinberg, Nick Wyman and Anatol Yusef. The play was introduced by theatre critic David Sheward of Backstage and NY1 On Stage.

PROJECT SHAW's concert readings will continue into its fifth year starting on January 25th, 2010. Next year will also see an expansion into fully mounted productions.

Among those actors who have previously appeared are Marian Seldes, Brian Murray,Cheyenne Jackson, Megan Mullally, Karen Ziemba, Jayne Houdyshell, Blair Brown, John Cullum, Veanne Cox, Marc Kudisch, Rebecca Luker, Cheyenne Jackson, Charlotte Rae, Fritz Weaver, Kate Mulgrew, Charles Busch, Gary Beach and Daphne Rubin-Vega.

As Shaw began his theatrical life as a critic, (and since we don't invite reviews), members of the press have also been involved in each reading. Among those who have introduced or acted include Jeremy McCarter, Howard Kissel, Charles Isherwood, Michael Riedel, David Rooney, Alexis Soloski, John Simon, Frank Scheck, David Sheward, David Cote, Adam Feldman, Rex Reed, Roma Torre, David Finkle, Eric Grode, Michael Feingold and Robert Simonson.

In addition to Project Shaw, GTG is also producing a successful new play development program. Named for one of Shaw' inflammatory one-acts, PRESS CUTTINGS: the new plays. As Shaw was a theater critic before becoming a playwright, all writers are currently on-staff critics or journalists devoted to covering the theater scene. The three writers chosen for the first year's cycle are David Cote, Jeremy McCarter and Robert Simonson. These plays will be developed in a year-long 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.

David Staller is founder and artistic director of Gingold Theatrical Group.

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.

Upcoming Project Shaw presentations (all readings begin at 7pm at The Players Club) include:
Monday, December 14: WHY SHE SHOULD NOT (Shaw's unfinished final play)

For more information, visit www.projectshaw.com.

Photos by Genevieve Rafter Keddy

Christine Pedi