Julia Murney & More to Celebrate Sir Peter Shaffer at Symphony Space This Spring

Aidan Quinn (Michael Collins, Practical Magic, Legends of the Fall, Broadway's A Streetcar Named Desire, and currently appearing in CBS' Elementary) joins Patrick Breen (Madam Secretary, The Normal Heart), Julia Murney (Wicked, The Wild Party), Valorie Curry (The Following, Twilight, American Pastoral), Sam Underwood (Dexter, Homeland, The Following) and Fundamental Theater Project in celebration of their honorary patron, Sir Peter Shaffer (Equus, Amadeus, Royal Hunt of the Sun) and in support of their mission of fostering emerging voices in the theater.

This year's benefit gala will present the Peter Shaffer Award for Emerging Excellence in Playwriting to company member and resident playwright, Ben Holbrook.

FTP most recently produced One Day When We Were Young by Nick Payne, starring Sam Underwood and Valorie Curry at Edinburgh Fringe 2015 to critical acclaim.

In 2012 the company presented a celebration of Sir Peter Shaffer's work, and was honored by Sir Ian McKellen, Alec Baldwin, Sir Derek Jacobi, John Guare, Tom Stoppard, Brian Bedford, Juliet Mills, and Simon Callow. Other special artists over the years include James Rado, Kate Mulgrew, Zosia Mamet, Anthony Rapp, Scott Adsit, Michael Emerson, Richard Easton, and Shirley Knight, among others.

Co-Artistic Director Sam Underwood will direct Patrick Breen, Julia Murney and FTP company members in a special matinee reading of Mr. Holbrook's play The Whale and the Dog Star - a quirky, fantastical and poignant exploration of grief and dreams.

The evening will feature an awards presentation event, including VIP reception and staged reading of Sir Peter's hilarious short play The Public Eye, starring Aidan Quinn and company members Valorie Curry and Sam Underwood.

Tickets for the 3pm matinee reading of "The Whale and the Dog Star" are $20. Tickets for the 6pm awards ceremony and staged reading of "The Public Eye", are $100 for general admission and $250 for VIP (preferred seating, admission to matinee performance, VIP champagne reception). To be held March 6th at Symphony Space.

To purchase tickets, visit www.symphonyspace.org/events/day/03/6/2016. Seating is extremely limited. For more information, visit www.fundamentaltheaterproject.com.