Original Cast of 'Side Man' to Reunite for 10th Anniversary

The original New York cast of Side Man will celebrate its 10th Anniversary with a one- night reading of Warren Leight's Tony Award winning play to benefit Opening Act, an innovative nonprofit that provides free after-school theater programming to New York City's most under-served public high schools.

Tony Award winning director Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening, Thoroughly Modern Millie, A View from the Bridge), who directed Side Man's off-Broadway and Broadway productions, will direct cast members Edie Falco (The Sopranos), Kevin Geer, Michael Mastro, Robert Sella, Joseph Lyle Taylor, Angelica Torn and Frank Wood (whose performance in Side Man earned him a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play). Leight's highly acclaimed play follows Clifford as he narrates the story of his broken family and the decline of jazz.

Side Man is Opening Act's fourth annual benefit play reading; last year's reading of Love Letters starred Bernadette Peters (Gypsy, Annie Get Your Gun, Into the Woods) and John Dossett (HBO's John Adams, Gypsy, The Constant Wife) and past events have included the talents of Michael Badalucco (The Practice, O Brother Where Art Thou?), Laura Benanti (Gypsy, Into the Woods), Michael Berresse (A Chorus Line, The Light in the Piazza), Andrew McCarthy (Lipstick Jungle, St. Elmo's Fire, Pretty in Pink), Alicia Minshew (All My Children) and Daniel Reichard (Jersey Boys).

Opening Act is a unique nonprofit that brings free, long-term, quality theater programming to New York City schools that wouldn't otherwise have a stage of their own. Its after-school programs in eight of New York City's most under-served public high schools give students the opportunity to explore their creativity through improvisation, acting and playwriting - and let students shine in productions they write and perform themselves. Through theater, Opening Act students gain confidence, pride, and the knowledge they can succeed at anything in life. Opening Act's mission 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 www.openingactnewyork.org to read more about Opening Act's programs and talented teens.

10th Anniversary Reading of Side Man benefiting Opening Act

Will take place on Monday, November 10th, 2008, performance beginning at 7PM

New World Stages is located at 340 West 50th Street in Manhattan

Tickets are $1000 (Limited availability, includes Side Man script autographed by the original cast, program recognition, premium seating, and post-show toast with some of the actors), $250 (program recognition, premium seating, and post-show toast with some of the actors), $100 (general admission ticket for reading).

For more information and to purchase tickets please visit www.openingactnewyork.org.

Photo Credit Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.