Broadway legend Bernadette Peters and John Dossett performed in a
one-night reading of A.R. Gurney's Love
Letters to benefit Opening Act, an innovative nonprofit that provides free
after-school theater programming to New York City's most under-served public
high schools.
The
reading took place on Monday, September 24 (7PM
reception, 8PM performance) at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street
in Manhattan).
Michael Mastro (Broadway's 12 Angry Men, Cat on a Hot
Tin Roof, Kissing Jessica Stein)
directed Gurney's "poignantly funny play about the relationship of
Andrew Makepeace Ladd and Melissa Gardner. Told entirely through a series of
letters, the play traces Andrew and Melissa's relationship from childhood to
adolescence to middle age in a moving portrait of a bittersweet friendship,"
describe press notes.
Love Letters was
Opening Act's third annual benefit reading. Opening Act is a unique nonprofit that brings free,
long-term, quality theater programming to New York City schools that wouldn't
otherwise have a stage of their own. Its
after-school programs in seven of NYC's most under-served public high schools
give students the opportunity to explore their creativity through improvisation,
acting and playwriting - and let students shine in productions they write and
perform themselves. Proceeds of the
evening go directly to support the programs in Clara Barton, Cobble Hill, Franklin K. Lane,
Graphic Communication Arts, Tilden, Samuel Gompers and Walton High Schools. Please visit www.OpeningActNewYork.org to read
more about Opening Act's programs and talented teens.
Photos by Ben Strothmann
John Dossett and Bernadette Peters
John Dossett and Bernadette Peters
John Dossett and Bernadette Peters
John Dossett and Bernadette Peters
John Dossett and Bernadette Peters
Opening Act kids: Amanda Mewa, Neilia McKenzie, Ellio Martinez, Christine Beaubrun, Linette Alvarez and AJ Ortiz
Opening Act kids: Amanda Mewa, Neilia McKenzie, Ellio Martinez, Christine Beaubrun, Linette Alvarez and AJ Ortiz
John Dossett and Bernadette Peters
John Dossett and Bernadette Peters
John Dossett and Bernadette Peters
front: Suzy Myers (Creative and Artistic Director of Opening Act), Christine Beaubrun, Bernadette Peters, Neilia McKenzie, Amanda Mewa; back: AJ Ortiz, Michael Mastro, John Dossett, Linette Alvarez and Ellio Martinez
Michael Mastro, John Dossett, Bernadette Peters and Andrew McCarthy
Michael Mastro, Michele Pawk, John Dossett, Bernadette Peters and Andrew McCarthy
Bernadette Peters
John Dossett
Michael Mastro, Bernadette Peters and John Dossett
John Dossett and Michele Pawk
Bernadette Peters signs autographs for Opening Act students
Bernadette Peters and AJ Ortiz of Opening Act
