"Afterwords" Talkback Series Begins at Orson's Shadow

A talkback series entitled AFTERWORDS begins at the Off-Broadway hit Orson's Shadow on Wednesday, April 13th and continues each Wednesday night thereafter, with Q&A sessions immediately following 8:00 PM performances.

Upon opening at the Barrow Street Theatre on Sunday, March 13th, Orson's Shadow earned rave reviews. The New York Times praised, "Deliciously funny. Austin Pendleton's delightful backstage comedy is sharp-witted and tender-hearted," and The New Yorker proclaimed Orson's Shadow "A clever, riveting play." The Associated Press added, "A high-voltage, fascinating tale. Mesmerizing." In describing the play, Time Out New York wrote "An engrossing view of the twilight of theater gods. A first-rate cast!"

Austin Pendleton's Orson's Shadow is set in 1960, as notorious film director Orson Welles senses his foothold in the screen industry slipping. Coaxed into a new endeavor by his friend, theater critic Kenneth Tynan, the directorial giant finds himself at the helm of a West End production of Ionesco's Rhinoceros starring Laurence Olivier and his paramour Joan Plowright. Olivier's eccentric wife Vivien Leigh adds to the mix as legendary egos collide on stage and off. A fictional rendering of actual events, Orson's Shadow imagines the circumstances behind the staging of this absurdist masterpiece and reveals the human frailty of these titan personalities. Directed by David Cromer, this production features Susan Bennett, John Judd, Tracy Letts, Lee Roy Rogers, Jeff Still and Ian Westerfer.

The following have been announced for AFTERWORDS. Special guests will lead discussions about Orson's Shadow and relevant topics immediately following the show.

Wednesday, April 13: Playwright Austin Pendleton & writer Robert Simonson

· Orson's Shadow playwright Austin Pendleton's previous plays include Booth and Uncle Bob. As an actor, Pendleton appeared on Broadway in The Diary of Anne Frank. Off-Broadway, he appeared in The Last Sweet Days of Isaac (Obie award), Hamlet, Richard III, Uncle Vanya and others. He has acted for film and television as well.

· Writer Robert Simonson covers theatre for The New York Times, The New York Sun, Time Out New York and Playbill.com, where he has been editor since 1998. He is the author of the books Role of a Lifetime & On Broadway, Men Still Wear Hats.

Wednesday, April 20: Writer / Actor / Director Peter Bogdanovich

· Film industry veteran Peter Bogdanovich is widely known as a writer, actor and director. He befriended Orson Welles while writing the book Legends of Hollywood.

Wednesday, April 27: Stage & screen veterans Eli Wallach & Anne Jackson

· Actors Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson have appeared on stage and screen. Both starred in the original Broadway production of Ionesco's Rhinoceros...the play central to Orson's Shadow.

Wednesday, May 4: Author Chris Welles Feder, daughter of Orson Welles

· Chris Welles Feder is a widely published author of schoolbooks & educational materials for children, including the popular Brain Quest games. She has also published a book of poems titled The Movie Director inspired by her father, Orson Welles. In the book, she creates a fictional portrait of her father, much like Pendleton did in Orson's Shadow.

Orson's Shadow is presented by Planetearth Partners, Inc. and Scott Morfee.

AFTERWORDS guests and schedule are subject to change.

Orson's Shadow plays at the Barrow Street Theatre (27 Barrow at Seventh Avenue South) as follows: Tuesday through Friday at 8:00 PM, Saturday at 3:00 & 8:00 PM and Sunday at 3:00 & 7:30 PM. AFTERWORDS talkbacks immediately follow Wednesday 8:00 PM performances and are FREE to those holding tickets for corresponding dates. Tickets for all performances are $55 and may be arranged through Telecharge at www.telecharge.com or (212) 239-6200. For more information, go to www.OrsonThePlay.com .