Audra McDonald, Sherie Rene Scott & Lili Taylor to Lead THE FIRST WIVES CLUB Screenplay Benefit Reading, 7/7

Robert Harling's screenplay to the iconic film THE FIRST WIVES CLUB will come alive in New York on July 7th, 2014 at 8pm for a one night-only benefit reading in the Mainstage Theater (416 West 42nd Street), directed by Trip Cullman and featuring an all-star cast. All proceeds will benefit The Actors Fund's Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative, which provides "a safety net and a place to turn when women in the creative community are faced with critical health concerns."

The evening is produced in arrangement with Paramount Pictures by The Indigo Theatre Project (Nick Gereffi, Artistic Director/ Rachel Sussman, Executive Producer), a theater company that strives to unite passion with purpose by producing high-profile readings to benefit relevant charitable organizations. THE FIRST WIVES CLUB is Line Produced by Allison Bressi and Associate Produced by Shoshana Feinstein.

The reading will star five time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald as "Annie Paradis," three time Tony Award nominee Sherie Rene Scott as "Elise Elliot," and Golden Globe Award winner Lili Taylor as "Brenda Cushman," with Will Swenson as "Aaron Paradis," Jeremy Shamos as "Morty Cushman," John Ellison Conlee as "Bill Atchison," Rebecca Naomi Jones as "Shelly Stewart/ Young Annie," Katherine Waterston as "Dr. Leslie Rosen/ Young Cynthia," Margo Seibert as "Phoebe LaVelle/ Young Elise," Tracee Chimo as "Chris Paradis/ Jason Cushman/ Young Brenda," Kristine Nielsen as "Catherine McDuggan/ Gunilla Garson-Goldberg," Michael Cyril Creighton as "Duarto Feliz," William Jackson Harper as "Character Men," and Julie Halston as "Character Women." Additional casting will be announced shortly.

Based on the best-selling novel by Olivia Goldsmith, THE FIRST WIVES CLUB follows friends Annie (Audra McDonald), Elise (Sherie Rene Scott), and Brenda (Lili Taylor), who reconnect after each is left by their husband for a younger woman. Looking to turn their tragedy into triumph, the three women join forces in service of the greater good... by seeking revenge on the men who have wronged them. A cultural phenomenon since its theatrical release in 1996, THE FIRST WIVES CLUB is an empowering story about getting over it, getting even, and getting everything. For more information, please visit www.indigotheatreproject.org.

Tickets to the benefit reading of the screenplay to THE FIRST WIVES CLUB range from $100 to $150 (the latter includes premium seats and an invitation to a post-show reception). To purchase tickets, 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.