Public to Present Free In Darfur Reading at the Delacorte

The Public Theater has announced that it will offer New Yorkers a free staged reading of Winter Miller's In Darfur in Central Park for one night only.   This reading will continue the momentum generated by The Public's developmental production of In Darfur, which was highly successful in bringing audiences and artists together to raise awareness of the Darfur Crisis and encourage activism.  Featuring the original cast of The Public's production directed by Joanna Settle, the reading will take place at the Delacorte Theater on July 9th at 8:00 pm.

"Working as research assistant to Nicholas Kristof, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist at the New York Times, playwright Winter Miller is immersed in the issues surrounding the ongoing genocide in Darfur. In Darfur is the provocative account of three intertwined lives at a camp for internally displaced persons in Darfur. The story follows an aid worker's mission to save and protect lives, a journalist's pursuit to deliver a "Page One" story and a Darfuri woman's quest for safety. It is a searing story of urgency and international significance," state press materials.

The developmental production of In Darfur directed by Joanna Settle ran from April 13th to April 29th at The Public Theater.  In Darfur was also featured in the fall 2007 New Work Now!, The Public's nationally recognized festival of free play readings that showcases a new generation of playwrights. 

In choosing to program In Darfur at The Delacorte, Artistic Director Oskar Eustis commented "We ran Winter Miller's powerful and timely play in the Shiva Theater at The Public for three weeks and the response was amazing, on both an artistic and a political level. We want to build on the seminal experience we had last fall, with our one-night reprise of David Hare's brilliant Stuff Happens, by using the bully pulpit of the Delacorte to bring attention, not only to this important play, but to this critically important human rights issue. The theater can be an extraordinary forum for debate about the great issues of our time, and no issue is more critically important than the genocide in Darfur and no theater better suited to rouse our consciences than the Delacorte."

Following the reading, Nicholas Kristof will lead a post-show discussion; it will be the a continuation of "Conversations on Darfur," The Public's discussion series with journalists, activists and aid works that offers the audience an opportunity to learn more about the situation in Darfur and the extraordinary work being done by individuals and organizations to end the genocide.  Continuing its partnership with The Save Darfur Coalition and The Genocide Intervention Network (GI-Net ), The Public will also create opportunities at the event for audience members to take immediate action on behalf of Darfur.   In addition, The Public will partner with Jewcy Media Group, an entertainment and media company devoted to helping Jews create meaning and community, by creating a Darfur resource center on the Jewcy website. 

The cast of In Darfur includes Ron Brice, Zainab Jah, Aaron Lohr, Heather Raffo, Maduka Steady, Sharon Washington and Rutina Wesley.

Tickets are free and will be available on the day of the performance (two per person) at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park beginning at 1:00 p.m. and at The Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street (near Astor Place), from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The closest entrances to the Delacorte are at 81st Street and Central Park West or 79th Street and Fifth Avenue.

For additional information call (212) 539-8750 or visit The Public Theater website at www.publictheater.org.