O'Hara, d'Arcy James Lead Keen Company's 'And Then I Wrote 'The Music Man' Reading, 6/16

Next To Normal's Brian D'Arcy James and South Pacific's Kelli O'Hara, who formerly costarred in Broadway's Sweet Smell of Success, are set to star in the Keen Company's world premiere reading of 'And Then I Wrote 'The Music Man' on June 16 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre. The reading, part of the company's 10th Annual Benefit, will be directed by Carl Forsman and will feature musical direction and accompaniment by Brian Cimmet.

'And Then I Wrote 'The Music Man' is an hour-long musical in which MerEdith Wilson (James) and his wife Rini (O'Hara) perform his hit show, The Music Man. The show is based on MerEdith Wilson's book 'But He Doesn't Know The Territory,' which chronicles the process that Wilson took in writing the musical.

The benefit reading will take place on June 16 at 8:00pm at the Lucille Lortel Theatre On 121 Christopher Street in New York City, following a cocktail reception and silent auction for the company at Cooper Classic, located at 137 Perry Street. Tickets are $125 and and can be purchased by calling 212-216-0963. For more information, visit http://www.keencompany.org/.

Brian D'Arcy James' many Broadway credits include Next To Normal, Time Stands Still, Shrek (Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards, Tony nomination), The Apple Tree, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Sweet Smell of Success (Tony, Drama Desk nominations), Titanic, Carousel, Blood Brothers. Off-Broadway: Port Authority, Next to Normal, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, The Pavilion, Flight, The Good Thief (Keen Company; Obie Award, Drama Desk nomination, Outer Critics Circle nomination, L.A. Weekly Award), Pardon My English, The Wild Party (Drama Desk nomination), Public Enemy, Floyd Collins, Irving Berlin's White Christmas. Film/TV: Ghost Town, Enchanted, "Cashmere Mafia," "Rescue Me," "Neurotica," "Exiled," "Sax and Violins." Solo debut album: From Christmas Eve to Christmas Morn. BS: Northwestern University. www.briandjames.com

Three-time Tony nominee Kelli O'Hara has appeared in South Pacific, The Pajama Game, The Light in the Piazza, Dracula, Sweet Smell of Success, Sondheim's Follies, and Jekyll and Hyde. Off-Broadway she has appeared in My Fair Lady, Sunday in the Park with George, My Life with Albertine and many more. Shes appeared on TV in Numb3rs and All My Children.

Keen Company produces sincere plays and believes that theater is at its most powerful when texts and productions are generous in spirit and provoke identification. Inspired by the works of early 20th Century American Playwrights, Keen Company demonstrates that an earnest intent can still be sophisticated. The company is unafraid of emotional candor, vulnerability, and optimism. Keen Company seeks to create a culture of artists, technicians, administrators and audiences who share a desire to invigorate the theater with productions that connect us through humor, heart and hope.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.