Brooke Shields Leads Reading of A TOMATO CAN'T GROW IN THE BRONX

Executive Producer Aaron Grant is presenting an industry-only reading of Gary Morgenstein's new play, A Tomato Can't Grow in the Bronx today at the Jerry Orbach Theatre at the Snapple Theatre Center.

Directed by Philip Morgaman, the 3:30pm reading will star Broadway, film and television actress Brooke Shields as Eleanor Abrams, the neurotic, only daughter of Harry, a domineering old school (and fading) Bronx big shot, with dreams of breaking free of her own fears and moving into a home of her own on Long Island, along with her teenage son Elliot and husband Sammy.

Joining Ms. Shields will be Aaron Simon Gross as her son Elliot and Sam Seder as her husband Sammy.

Currently on Broadway as Morticia Addams in The Addams Family, Brooke Shields has also starred on Broadway as Ruth Sherwood in Wonderful Town, Roxie Hart in Chicago, Sally Bowles in Cabaret & Rizzo in Grease, for which she won a Theatre World Award. She recently starred with Raúl Esparza in Alan Menken's Leap of Faith at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles & in the new play Girls Talk at the Lee Strasberg Theatre, also in L.A. She was recently seen in her own show In My Life at Feinstein's at the Loews Regency. She was nominated twice for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy & was also nominated for the American Comedy Awards' Funniest Female Performer in a Television Series Leading Role for her hit comedy show, "Suddenly Susan." She is also the recipient of five People's Choice Awards. A Princeton University honors graduate, Shields is the author of The Brooke Book, On Your Own, Down Came the Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression & two children's books, Welcome to Your World, Baby & It's the Best Day Ever, Dad!

Sam Seder is a New York state based actor writer & director, best known as a political talk show host of the irreverent award winning "Majority Report."

Aaron Simon Gross began acting in his native Florida & made his Broadway debut in Jason Robert Brown's 13 the Musical. He has also appeared at Yale Rep & Berkeley Rep.

In addition to A Tomato Can't Grow in the Bronx, Gary Morgenstein's plays include Ponzi Man & Mad Mel & the Marradians. He has also published four novels: Loving Rabbi Thalia Kleinman, Jesse's Girl, Take Me Out to the Ballgame, The Man Who Wanted to Play Center Field for the New York Yankees & the non-fiction How to Find a Woman…Or Not.

Best known as a Broadway producer (Donmar Warehouse's production of Hamlet starring Jude Law, the Tony-nominated musical Cry-Baby, La Bête & last season's Born Yesterday, starring Jim Belushi), Philip Morgaman's directing credits include Cy Coleman's The Life, Hello Again by Michael John LaChiusa, Doubt by John Patrick Shanley & Die Mommie Die by Charles Busch, as well as Brooke Shields' cabaret debut at Feinstein's at Loews Regency.

Executive Producer is Aaron Grant, the General Manager is Kelvin Productions, LLC & Casting is by Daryl Eisenberg Casting.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos