HAMILTON's Anthony Ramos and KINKY BOOTS' Billy Porter to Headline Opening Act's 12th Annual Play Reading Benefit

Opening Act, an innovative nonprofit providing free after-school theater programming to New York City's most under-served public high schools, announced today the cast of its 12th Annual Benefit Play Reading, HEAR ME HERE, directed by Tony Award-Winner Kenny Leon (A Raisin in the Sun), on Tuesday March 13 at New World Stages in New York. Written by Christopher Oscar Peña (Insecure) and Dominique Fishback (The Deuce), HEAR ME HERE will star Anthony Ramos (Hamilton; She's Gotta Have It), Billy Porter (Kinky Boots), Dominique Fishback (The Deuce), Willow McCarthy (Matilda), Priscilla Lopez (A Chorus Line, In the Heights), Natalie Paul (The Deuce) and more.

For more than a decade, Opening Act has provided free after-school theater programming to New York City's most under-served public high schools, with past Play Reading actors including Uzo Aduba, Edie Falco, Joshua Jackson, Bernadette Peters, Cynthia Nixon, Aja Naomi King, Loretta Devine, Auli'i Cravalho, Beau Bridges, Dulé Hill, and more.

"We are honored to be working with such incredible talent for Opening Act's 12th Annual Play Reading Benefit," said Suzy Myers Jackson, Executive Director of Opening Act. "These events raise valuable funds and awareness for the organization and help further our goal of helping high school students to develop a sense of leadership, community, and commitment through high-quality, innovative, and free theater programs."

The event was cast by Alexa L. Fogel. Tickets are on sale now here.

Opening Act is an innovative nonprofit that brings free, long-term theater programs to 50 of New York City's most under-served public high schools. Through theater, Opening Act students gain confidence, pride, and the knowledge that they can succeed at anything in life. Opening Act's vision is to see that every New York City public school student has access to an artistic space where they can develop commitment, community, and leadership through their artistic achievement. Please visit https://openingact.org/to learn more.

Photo Credit: Genevieve Rafter Keddy