Bryan Batt and Patricia Clarkson Lead LOVE LETTERS to Benefit The Actors Fund, 2/13

The Actors Fund, the nationwide human services organization that helps all professionals in performing arts and entertainment, will present a benefit reading of A. R. Gurney's classic Love Letters starring Patricia Clarkson and Bryan Batt. This one night only event, just in time for Valentine's Day, will be on Monday, February 13th at 7:30 pm at The Westside Theatre.

Love Letters has a long history of star pairings. Close friends Clarkson and Batt had previously performed the piece to great acclaim in their hometown of New Orleans. Tom Cianfichi, who directed the pair before, helms the show for The Actors Fund.

Batt stated, "We had such an amazing experience performing together in New Orleans that Patti and I were hoping for the opportunity to do it again – especially since we were able to help raise funds for such a worthy cause. We are thrilled to be revisiting this gorgeous play for an organization that means so much to all of us in this business, The Actors Fund."

A unique and imagiNative Theatre piece, Love Letters is made up of letters exchanged over a lifetime between Andrew Makepeace Ladd III and Melissa Gardner, two people who grew up together, went their separate ways, but continued to share confidences through correspondence. Beginning with birthday party thank-you notes and summer camp postcards, Love Letters follows Andy and Melissa through college, marriage and careers. The evening becomes a touching and frequently funny journey between two compelling characters that share a life and love through letters.

Clarkson has carved out a significant career in movies, television and on stage. She earned a pair of Emmys for her guest appearances in the HBO series "Six Feet Under," and was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her work in the 2003 film "Pieces of April."

Batt has won two Screen Actor Guild Awards for his portrayal of Salvatore Romano in the hit Dramatic series "Mad Men," he was featured in such films as "Jeffrey" (as well as the off -Broadway play) (1995) and "Funny People" (2009). His nine Broadway appearances include Sunset Blvd., Saturday Night Fever, The Scarlett Pimpernel and La Cage aux Folles. Off-Broadway audiences may remember him from his Drama Desk nominated turns in Forbidden Broadway.

Tickets for the one night only benefit are $100. Tickets purchased at the $150 level include a VIP after-party with the two stars. Sponsorship packages are available. Tickets can be purchased at: www.actorsfund.org or by phone at 212.221.7300 ext. 133 or email tickets@actorsfund.org.

The Actors Fund is a national human services organization that helps everyone – performers and those behind the scenes – who works in performing arts and entertainment, helping more than 12,000 people directly each year, and hundreds of thousands online. Serving professionals in film, theatre, television, music, opera, radio and dance, The Fund's programs include social services and emergency assistance, health care and insurance, housing, and employment and training services. With offices in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, The Actors Fund has – for 130 years – been a safety net for those in need, crisis or transition. Visit www.actorsfund.org.

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Patricia Clarkson As an Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award-winning actress, Patricia Clarkson was most recently seen in the comedy "Friends with Benefits" in which she co-stars with Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis and the Lone Scherfig directed drama, "One Day" with Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess. In 2010, she was seen in the box office hit "Easy A", after receiving rave reviews for her starring role in the award winning romantic drama, "Cairo Time." In 2003, her role in "Pieces of April" earned her nominations for Academy, Golden Globe, SAG, Broadcast Film Critics and Independent Spirit awards. The National Board of Review and the National Society of Film Critics named her Best Supporting Actress of the Year for her work in "Pieces of April" and "The Station Agent."

Other film credits include: Martin Scorsese's thriller "Shutter Island;" Woody Allen's "Whatever Works" and "Vicky Christina Barcelona;" "Blind Date" with Stanley Tucci; "Elegy;" "No Reservations;" "All the Kings Men;" "Lars and the Real Girl;" "Good Night, and Good Luck" with George Clooney and David Straithairn, for which she and the cast received both Screen Actors Guild and Gotham Award nominations for Best Ensemble; "Far From Heaven" which won her a New York Film Critics Circle Award for Supporting Actress. Her continuous innovative work has earned her independent film earned her the Independent Award for Acting Excellence at the 2009 ShoWest Awards.

On television, Clarkson guest starred in the critically acclaimed HBO series "Six Feet Under," for which she won an Emmy in 2002 and again in 2006. Clarkson was seen in Lifetime's "Five," an anthology of five short films directed by Jennifer Aniston, Alicia Keys, Demi Moore, Patty Jenkins and Penelope Spheeris. She currently resides in New York.

Bryan Batt (actor, designer, civic activist, and author) is most recently known for his 2 time Screen Actors Guild Award winning performance as "Salvatore Romano" in AMC's critically acclaimed dramatic series MAD MEN which has been lauded with awards including three Emmys, three Golden Globes, as well as the Peabody award.

Broadway credits include leading and principal roles in the 2005 revival of La Cage Aux Folles, Beauty and the Beast, Seussical the Musical, Sunset Blvd., Saturday Night Fever, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Starlight Express, and Cats. Of his Off-Broadway credits, favorites are: Forbidden Broadway (Drama Desk Nomination). Theatrically, Bryan is most proud of originating the role of DARIUS in both the N.Y. and L.A. (Drama Logue Award) productions as well as the film adaptation of Paul Rudnick's ground breaking comedy Jeffrey.

Mr. Batt, a civic activist, champions many causes including Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Habitat For Humanity, Second Harvest Food Bank, the Human Rights Campaign (Equality and Visibility Awards) the SPCA, The Preservation Rescorce Center, The Point Foundation and the Isidore Newman School (Distinguished Alumni award). He serves on the board governors for the N.O. AIDS Task Force (Humanitus award) and Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre.

Bryan is also a designer, and with his partner of 22 years, Tom Cianfichi, are the nationally recognized creative forces behind HAZELNUT, a fine gift and home accessories shop in his home town of New Orleans. HAZELNUT has been featured in the NEW YORK TIMES, HOUSE BEAUTIFUL, IN STYLE, FOOD AND WINE, TOWN AND COUNTRY and many more publications.

His debut book, a memoir, or as he calls it, a momoir, "SHE AIN'T HEAVY, SHE'S MY MOTHER," celebrates his Steel Magnolia/Auntie Mame of a mom and depicts growing up in wildly colorful New Orleans in the 1970's. The book has received wonderful notices… "I Loved, Loved, Loved This Book" – Whoopi Goldberg… and was on Janet Maslin's NY Times top 10 summer read list and was a finalist for the 2011 LAMBDA literary award. His most recent book is a design/decor book for Clarkson Potter/Random House entitled "BIG, EASY STYLE."