Mamie Gummer, Wallace Shawn Lead Dark Nights' HAMLET AT HOME for The New Group

Next up in its continuing series Dark Nights, The New Group presents Hamlet at Home, with readings from Shakespeare's Hamlet featuring Lisa Emery, Mamie Gummer, Josh Hamilton and Wallace Shawn, directed by Scott Elliott. This event takes place Sunday, December 11 at 7:00pm.

Dark Nights at The New Group offers unique programming and enlightened conversation to coincide with the company's mainstage productions. Hamlet at Home centers around readings of scenes from Shakespeare's greatest family drama, featuring Josh Hamilton as the prince, Wallace Shawn as Claudius and the Ghost, Lisa Emery as Gertrude and Mamie Gummer as Ophelia, directed by Scott Elliott. This event is the culmination of an extended actor-driven exploration into the intimate side of the story. A discussion will follow.

Dark Nights at The New Group is a series of cultural conversations and readings designed to create a dialogue between artists and audience. Dark Nights generally coincide with mainstage productions at The New Group, creating a forum for public conversation and enhancing the cultural landscape. Past events have featured, most recently, Thomas Bradshaw and Todd Solondz, as well as luminaries such as F. Murray Abraham, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Eric Bogosian, Zoe Caldwell, David Henry Hwang, Tony Kushner, Martha Plimpton and Hal Prince. Dark Nights at The New Group collaborated with the 92nd Street Y for an event featuring Matthew Broderick and Kenneth Lonergan (The Starry Messenger), moderated by Leonard Lopate. Topics have ranged from gay adoption (in an event hosted by Rosie O'Donnell timed to The Kid) to an evening highlighting Sam Shepard's work (led by Ethan Hawke with music by the composers from A Lie of the Mind), to a panel on documentary theatre (featuring Marc Wolf performing Another American, his OBIE-winning play first produced at The New Group ten years ago).

Reservations required at seats@thenewgroup.org (space is limited). Suggested donation: $20. Free for New Group subscribers.

Other upcoming Darks Nights at The New Group:

February 12, 2012: Adapting Baal
Ethan Hawke and Jonathan Marc Sherman, with musical collaborators Shelby & Latham Gaines, explore the legacy of Brecht from the point of view of attempting to adapt Brecht's play Baal. With guests and music by GAINES, they will perform Brecht's poetry, excerpts of Baal, and a bit of Sherman's new play, Clive, derived from the Brecht.

April 1, 2012: Reflecting Rabe
David Rabe and others reflect on his career in an evening featuring readings from his plays and excerpts from his novels. Special guests TBA.

The New Group is currently represented Off-Broadway by Thomas Bradshaw's Burning, playing through December 17. Directed by Scott Elliott, Burning features Jeff Biehl, Reyna de Courcy, Barrett Doss, Hunter Foster, Andrew Garman, Drew Hildebrand, EVan Johnson, Danny Mastrogiorgio, Andrew Polk, Larisa Polonsky, Adam Trese, Vladimir Versailles and Stephen Tyrone Williams.

Tickets for Burning may be arranged at www.telecharge.com or (212) 239-6200, or at the Theatre Row Box Office (12–8 PM daily). Tickets are $60.00 plus $1.25 restoration fee.
For more, please visit www.thenewgroup.org.

Next on the mainstage at The New Group: Russian Transport, a world premiere written by Erika Sheffer and directed by Scott Elliott. Russian Transport will feature Janeane Garofalo, Daniel Oreskes, Morgan Spector, Sarah Steele and Raviv Ullman. Performances begin January 17. Official Opening Night set for Monday, January 30. Tickets on sale to the public December 5.

The New Group, led by founding Artistic Director Scott Elliott and Executive Director Geoff Rich, is an award-winning company with a commitment to developing and producing powerful, contemporary theater. In 15 seasons, The New Group has been honored with 9 Obie Awards, 28 Drama Desk nominations, 6 Lucille Lortel Awards and 3 Tony® Awards. The New Group was founded in 1995 by Artistic Director Scott Elliott as a place for artists to experiment, take risks and collaborate in an artist-driven environment. Notable productions include Ecstasy, This is Our Youth, Aunt Dan and Lemon, Hurlyburly, Abigail's Party, Rafta, Rafta..., The Starry Messenger, A Lie of the Mind, The Kid, Blood From a Stone, Marie and Bruce and many more. The New Group's first musical, Avenue Q, won three Tony Awards. Most recently, The New Group and Scott Elliott were honored with a 2010-2011 Drama Desk Special Award "for presenting contemporary new voices, and for uncompromisingly raw and powerful productions."

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos