Belluso Play, with Brenneman & Reuben, Opens at WTF 7/26

A Nervous Smile, written by John Belluso and directed by Maria Mileaf, will run from July 26th through August 6th on the Nikos Stage.  Starring Amy Brenneman and Gloria Reuben, the play will be presented as part of the Williamstown Theatre Festival.

While attending Harvard University, Brenneman teamed with others to form the Cornerstone Theatre Company which customized the classics and performed them with local performers in mostly rural towns. Additional appearances Off-Off Broadway and Off-Broadway followed. On television, she was an original cast member of "NYPD Blue" for which she received two Emmy nominations for her role as Janice Licalsi. She had a recurring role on Frasier playing Faye Moscowitz. Last year, she concluded her six year run as star, producer and co-creator of "Judging Amy," receiving three Emmy nominations playing Judge Amy Gray.

Reuben, who received two Emmy nominations for her role on "ER," has appeared Off-Broadway in Stuff Happens at the Public and A Heartbeat to Baghdad at the Flea.  Film appearances include The Sentinel, Kettle of Fish, Shaft, Happy Here and Now.  Other TV appearances include Life Support, Numbers, Salem Witchtrials, The Agency, and Feast of All Saints.

The cast also includes Scott Cohen (Film: Kissing Jessica Stein, TV: "NYPD Blue," "Law & Order: Trial by Jury," "Gilmore Girls," Broadway: upcoming Losing Louie) as Brian, Gloria Reuben (TV: "ER") as Nic(ole) and Deirdre O'Connell (Film: Smoke and City of Angels) as Blanka.

A Nervous Smile was written by John Belluso. Belluso was confined to a wheelchair, and many of his plays feature a disabled character . He died earlier this year at age 36.

"Filled with unlikely humor, this intense and remarkable play addresses the strain on families of caring for severely challenged children. Drawn from a real-life incident, the play invites us to think about the unthinkable," state press notes. This is the play's second production. It premiered at The Humana Festival in 2005.

Mileaf said about the play's writer, "I loved talking with John because he saw the world with intelligence, humor and edge.  You can see this in A Nervous Smile.  John challenges the audience to see the world with a new perspective.  He was especially sly in taking on subjects that we all thought we already knew something about.  He liked theatre that articulated questions rather than provided answers."

The show plays July 26 to August 6 on the Nikos stage. Performances are Tuesdays through Fridays at 8:00, Saturdays at 8:30, with matinees Thursdays at 3:00, Saturdays at 4:00, and Sundays at 2:00. Tickets are available by phone at 413.597.3400, at the Festival Box Office and at the Williamstown Theatre Festival website.

Williamstown Theatre Festival performances are held at The '62 Center for Theatre and Dance of Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Visit www.wtfestival.org for more information.