Laura Benanti, Marc Kudisch, et al. Set for BENEFIT X, 5/1

Renowned investigative theatre company The Civilians celebrates its 10th season of creating new work with BENEFIT X - an evening of stage and screen stars performing the songs of Michael Friedman (BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON) - set for Monday, May 2, beginning at 7:00pm at one of New York City's hottest new cultural venues, Le Poisson Rouge (158 Bleecker Street). Steven Cosson, Artistic Director of The Civilians, directs.

Tony Award-winner Laura Benanti (GYPSY, IN THE NEXT ROOM, WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN) and Tony-nominee Marc Kudisch (9 to 5, CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE) join The Civilians Associate Artists for the company's annual spring benefit. The evening kicks off with hor d'oeuvres and a cocktail hour followed by a one-night-only performance of Civilians favorites from the past ten years and original sketches performed by Civilians Associate Artists. The evening also features songs by founding member Michael Friedman, whose credits include Broadway's BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, including classics from past Civilians shows, as well as new material from the upcoming PRETTY FILTHY.

Associate Artists scheduled to perform include Quincy Tyler Bernstine (RUINED), Marsha Stephanie Blake (Broadway's MERCHANT OF VENICE), Aysan Celik, Matthew Dellapina (IN THE FOOTPRINT), Tony-nominee Maria Dizzia (IN THE NEXT ROOM), Gibson Frazier (THERE ARE NO MORE BIG SECRETS), Brad Heberlee (THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY), Daoud Heidemi, Nina Hellman (THE INTERNATIONALIST), Trey Lyford, Matthew Maher (SCHOOL OF LIES), Caitlin Miller, Jennifer Morris, Stephen Plunkett (ORPHAN'S HOME CYCLE), Maria Elena Ramirez (BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON), Robbie Collier Sublett and Colleen Werthmann (IN THE FOOTPRINT).

Additional special guests are to be announced.

Previous Civilians events have attracted such celebrities as Academy Award-winner Marisa Tomei, Logan Marshall-Green, Emily Mortimer, Cynthia Nixon, Tony Award-winner Michael Cerveris, Broadway's Karen Ziemba, Kathleen Chalfant, and Mary Testa, among others.

BENEFIT X is sponsored by Crop Vodka and Chatham Imports.

Michael Friedman has been the composer/lyricist for The Civilians' productions of IN THE FOOTPRINT, THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY, (I AM) NOBODY'S LUNCH, GONE MISSING and CANARD, CANARD, GOOSE? He has written the music and lyrics for the Broadway musical BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, as well as the scores for SAVED, IN THE BUBBLE, THE BRAND NEW KID, and GOD'S EAR.

Steven Cosson, with The Civilians, is co-writer/director of the company's IN THE FOOTPRINT, THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY, PARIS COMMUNE, the long-running hit GONE MISSING, and (I AM) NOBODY'S LUNCH. He has also directed productions for Hartford Stage, Soho Rep, Williamstown and O'Neill Conference Center.

The 10th Anniversary Committee for BENEFIT X includes Christopher and Jean Angell, Jennifer and Adam Bernstein, Michael Cerveris, Henry and Kathleen Chalfant, Scott Delman, Rosemarie DeWitt, Erica Dixon and Sean Hagerty, Jessica and Matt Harris, Logan Marshall-Green, Roz and Jerry Meyer, Beverly Morris and John Bergman, Lynn Nottage, Sabina and Wilfred Schlumberger, and Stephen and Saskia Siderow.

About The Civilians:
Led by Artistic Director Steve Cosson, The Civilians - which begins its 10th anniversary season last November with IN THE FOOTPRINT - is a center for investigative theater, supporting the development and production of new theater from creative inquiries into the most vital questions of the present. The Civilians expands the scope of American theater and champions innovation by tackling complex and under-explored subjects, enabling artists to enrich their creative processes through in-depth interaction with their topics, diversifying artistic voices and audiences, and integrating theater with new media. The creation of work may involve community residencies, travel, face-to-face conversations, extensive research, and other investigative means. The Civilians was founded in 2001 and since have supported the creation of 12 original works. The Civilians' projects have been produced at numerous theaters in New York including The Public Theater and Vineyard Theatre; nationally at Center Theatre Group, A.R.T., La Jolla Playhouse, HBO's US Comedy Festival, Studio Theatre, and Actors Theatre of Louisville among others. Works by the company have toured extensively to arts presenters and festivals with presentations in over 40 cities nationally and internationally. The company's past work has been featured in The New York Times top ten list and received a Fringe First Award as well as Lucille Lortel, Drama Desk and Drama Guild nominations. The Civilians' work is published by Dramatists Play Service, Oberon Books, Playscripts, and Ghostlight Records.

BENEFIT X: The Civilians' 10th Anniversary Spring Benefit will be held Monday, May 2 at Le Poisson Rouge (158 Bleecker Street), 7pm-11pm. Tickets begin at $75, with all proceeds to benefit The Civilians. For tickets, call 718-230-3330 or visit, www.thecivilians.org.

For more information, visit www.thecivilians.org.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos