Tonya Pinkins, Ari Graynor and More Set for INTIMATE APPAREL Reading, 1/7

Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Lynn Nottage's acclaimed play INTIMATE APPAREL returns to New York on January 7th, 2013 at 7pm for a one-night only benefit reading in the Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street,) directed by Jade King Carroll and featuring an all-star cast. All proceeds from the reading will benefit Donor Direct Action (www.donordirectaction.org), a non-profit organization for which Ms. Nottage is on the board, that "strengthens women's rights organizations around the world by increasing access to funds, advocacy, and visibility."

The reading is co-produced by Nick Gereffi and Rachel Sussman and stars Quincy Tyler Bernstine as 'Esther Mills,'Ari Graynor as 'Mrs. Van Buren,' Joshua Henry as 'George Armstrong,' Tonya Pinkins as 'Mrs. Dickson,' Condola Rashad as 'Mayme,' and Morgan Spector as 'Mr. Marks,' with Dominique Morisseau as 'Narrator/ Stage Directions.'

INTIMATE APPAREL tells the heartfelt story of Esther Mills (Bernstine), an African-American seamstress living and working in 1905 New York. Though she has managed a steady livelihood through creating intimate undergarments for a host of clients, Esther has largely seen her own life's dreams go unfulfilled. When she suddenly finds herself torn between her feelings for the Hasidic merchant whose store she frequents (Spector) and a lonesome Caribbean man with whom she begins corresponding (Henry), the prospect of love and a better future beams bright with promise, but Esther soon learns that the realities of our dreams are often far from what we've imagined. A triumphant tale of perseverance that's equal parts humorous and touching, INTIMATE APPAREL is an ode to the human spirit through one woman's journey toward claiming her voice at the dawn of a new century. For more information, please visit intimateapparelbenefit.com.

Tickets to the benefit reading of INTIMATE APPAREL are $40 and $75 (the latter includes premium seats and a copy of the play signed by Lynn Nottage). To purchase, please contact Ticket Central online 24 hours a day at www.ticketcentral.com or via phone at 212-279-4200 between the hours of 12PM and 8PM.