FOLLIES, RELATIVELY SPEAKING Host Actors Fund Benefit Shows in Jan.

The Broadway productions of FOLLIES and RELATIVELY SPEAKING will host special, additional performances to benefit The Actors Fund in January, 2012. FOLLIES will play an nineth weekly show at the Marquis Theatre on Sunday, January 15 at 8pm.  RELATIVELY SPEAKING will perform an additional weekly performance on January 29 at 8pm at its home, the Brooks Atkinson. 

The Actors Fund is a nationwide human services organization that helps all professionals in performing arts and entertainment. The Fund is a safety net, providing programs and services for those who are in need, crisis or transition. All show proceeds go to support the mission and members of The Fund.

In FOLLIES, when former members of the "Weismann Follies" reunite on the eve of their theatre's demolition, two couples remember their past and face the harsher realities of the present. Reminiscing about their younger selves and the years gone by, the crumbling theatre brings back memories for both couples of good times and bad. Containing such well-known songs as "Broadway Baby," "I'm Still Here," "Too Many Mornings," "Could I Leave You?" and "Losing My Mind," "Follies" echoes the songs, exuberance and romance of the vaudeville days between the two World Wars.

The Broadway production stars Bernadette Peters, Jan Maxwell, Ron Raines, Danny Burstein and Elaine Paige. 

It was recently announced that this Kennedy Center production of James Goldman and Stephen Sondheim’s FOLLIES on Broadway will transfer to the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles for six weeks only, May 3 through June 9, 2012. The opening is scheduled for May 9. For tickets and more information, visit www.CenterTheatreGroup.org/Follies or call (213) 972-4400. The current Broadway run at the Marquis Theatre will play through January 22, 2012, as scheduled.

The world premiere of RELATIVELY SPEAKING, three one-act comedies by the prolific writing trio of Ethan Coen, Elaine May and Woody Allen, opened on Broadway on October 20 at The Brooks Atkinson Theatre. Directed by John Turturro, the ensemble cast of 16 features Caroline Aaron, Bill Army, Katherine Borowitz, Lisa Emery, Ari Graynor, Steve Guttenberg, Danny Hoch, Julie Kavner, Jason Kravits, Richard Libertini, Mark Linn-Baker, Max Gordon Moore, Patricia O’Connell, Allen Lewis Rickman, Grant Shaud, Marlo Thomas.

RELATIVELY SPEAKING is comprised of three one-act comedies, each springing from a different branch of the family tree. In Talking Cure, Ethan Coen uncovers the sort of insanity that can come only from family. In George is Dead, Elaine May explores the hilarity of death. In Honeymoon Motel, Woody Allen invites you to the sort of wedding day you won’t forget.

For tickets to these Actors Fund performances, visit www.store.actorsfund.org, email tickets@actorsfund.org or call (212) 221-7300, ext. 133.