Photo Coverage: Inside the Sandyhook Docudrama Reading of 26 PEBBLES, with Karen Mason & More!

Producers R. Erin Craig and La Vie Productions just presented a benefit staged reading of the Newtown docudrama 26 Pebbles, a stirring new play that explores a community in transition after a tragedy, by Eric Ulloa and directed by Igor Goldin. The cast featured Broadway veterans Karen Mason, Richard Masur, Mike McGowan, Mamie Parris, and Jennifer Swiderski at the one-night only event hosted by the Culture Project at The Lynn Redgrave Theater (45 Bleecker Street) last night, December 15th, in commemoration of the second anniversary of the tragedy at Sandy Hook. Proceeds from the event will benefit a collection of charities chosen by the citizens of the City of Newtown, whose voices and testimonies are evocatively presented-verbatim-in 26 Pebbles.

Among the cast: Karen Mason has received Drama Desk Award nominations for her appearances on Broadway in Mamma Mia! And Carnival, and has also appeared in Hairspray, Sunset Boulevard and Jerome Robbins' Broadway; Richard Masur was recently seen opposite Tom Hanksin Lucky Guy; Mike McGowan has appeared on Broadway in The Producers, Grease, Ragtime, and Priscilla Queen of the Desert; Mamie Parris starred in The Drowsy Chaperone, Ragtime, 110 in the Shade and will be seen next on Broadway opposite Kristen Chenoweth in On the Twentieth Century; Rachel Coloff has starred in Broadway's Urinetown and Candide; and Jennifer Swiderski has appeared on Broadway in Mamma Mia! Additional casting to be announced shortly.

26 Pebbles is a new play that explores the power of community in the face of unimaginable tragedy. On December 14, 2012, 20-year-old Adam Lanza fatally shot 20 children and 6 adult staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT. The tragedy captured the attention-and broke the hearts-of the entire nation. These 26 innocent deaths-referred to by one Newtown resident as 'pebbles thrown into a pond'- created ripples and vibrations that were felt across the country.

Photo Credit: Jessica Fallon Gordon

Ben Thompson, Mike McGowan, Rachel Coloff, Karen Mason, Mamie Parris, Jennifer Swiderski and Richard Masur

Igor Goldin, Ben Thompson, Mike McGowan, Karen Mason, Rachel Coloff, Mamie Parris, Jennifer Swiderski, Richard Masur and Eric Ulloa

Karen Mason, Rachel Coloff, Mamie Parris, and Jennifer Swiderski

Karen Mason, Rachel Coloff, Mamie Parris, and Jennifer Swiderski

Ben Thompson, Mike McGowan and Richard Masur

Ben Thompson, Mike McGowan and Richard Masur

Director Igor Goldin and Playwright Eric Ulloa

Director Igor Goldin and Playwright Eric Ulloa

Eric Ulloa and guests

Eric Ulloa and guests

Karen Mason, Mike McGowan, Rachel Coloff, Jennifer Swiderski, Richard Masur and Mamie Parris

Karen Mason, Mike McGowan, Rachel Coloff, Jennifer Swiderski, Richard Masur and Mamie Parris