Geoffrey Beevers, Anthony Heald & Patricia Conolly to Lead New Dramatists' THE LADY REVEALED Reading

After a highly successful reading at Covent Garden's Bates Theatre this past July, the new play The Lady Revealed, will receive another starry reading on Monday, March 16th (3PM) at New Dramatists (424 West 44th Street). Based on the life and works of A.L. Rowse, the reading will feature Bianca Amato, David Hywel-Baynes, Geoffrey Beevers, Patricia Conolly, Anthony Heald, Merritt Janson, T. Ryder Smith, Sam Underwood and Jake McCready. Written by Dr. Andrew B. Harris the reading will be directed by Illana Stein (Associate Director Tamburlaine the Great at Theatre for a New Audience) along with Broadway's Belasco Theatre manager Steffi Wallis working with New Dramatists as producer.

A.L. Rowse shocked the world when he revealed the identity of the Dark Lady of Shakespeare's sonnets. The Lady Revealed centers on an Oxford historian who finds the casebooks of an Elizabethan astrologer. Swept back in time to Shakespeare's inner circle, he uncovers the identity of the Dark Lady of the Sonnets. Convinced his discovery will earn him the Royal Order of Merit, he realizes instead that he's become the object of ridicule by the Oxbridge elite.

"I was unprepared for my reaction to a deeply moving account of an extraordinary man. I laughed at his wit and wept at his sadness. The Celtic soul is dark and contradictory and Andrew Harris showed that Rowse had it all, while Geoffrey Beevers made me forget it was a reading. I was in the presence of a great Cornishman all afternoon," commented Barbara Hosking ---CBE speechwriter for two British Prime Ministers, who knew Rowse personally.

The Lady Revealed features a cast of nine, including Geoffrey Beevers (The Audience), Anthony Heald (The Elephant Man), Patricia Conolly (Rasheeda Speaking), Bianca Amado (The Coast of Utopia), David Hywel-Baynes (Richard III, Iris Theatre, Covent Garden), Merritt Janson, (Tamburlaine the Great, Theatre for a New Audience), T. Ryder Smith (War Horse), and Sam Underwood (The Following). Jake McCready, who appeared in the university workshop of The Lady Revealed, will read stage directions.

In addition to writing The Lady Revealed, playwright Dr. Andrew B. Harris has written The Eternal Romeo and Juliet, Erasmus, and Tar-tuff (a play based on Molière's Tartuffe). A noted Edward Albee scholar, Dr. Harris compiled, produced, and directed the world premiere of Albee's Women. Other production credits include shows in New York, Chicago, and Texas including The Life of Galileo (with Laurence Luckinbill), Tennessee Williams' Suddenly Last Summer (Dina Merrill), and the first Sam Shepard Festival (Shep in Rep). Dr. Harris is the recipient of the first Award for Excellence in Education for his book "Broadway Theatre" and USITT's coveted Golden Pen Award for The Performing Set. He is Professor of Theatre at the University of North Texas where he teaches theatre history and playwriting as well as being an alumnus of New Dramatists.

Illana Stein is a New York-based director originally from Fort Worth, Texas. Her credits include: Associate Director Tamburlaine the Great (Theatre for a New Audience), A Midsummer Night's Dream (The Queens Players, The Secret Theatre), The Offering (Network One-Act Play Festival, Winner: Best Play), or what she will (Fringe NYC 2012, Winner: Overall Excellence in Directing), Stop Kiss (Sanguine Theatre Company), The Matthew Portraits and No Stranger There (Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Theatre Festival.)

The Lady Revealed will be presented Monday, March 16th (3PM) at New Dramatists (424 West 44th Street) for invited theatre industry and Rialto insiders. Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @theladyrevealed. For more reservations and more information contact rsvp.theladyrevealed@gmail.com

Pictured: Beevers in THE AUDIENCE; Photo Credit: Johan Persson