Photo Flash: James Earl Jones, Amanda Plummer, and More Lead Reading of THE NIGHT OF THE IGUANA

The Acting Company presented its one-night-only benefit reading of The Night of the Iguana, Tennessee Williams' feverishly poetic 1961 drama, at The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College (68th Street between Park and Lexington Avenues), on Monday, June 11.

Directed by Michael Wilson, the acclaimed Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award-winner, the performance reunited much of the cast and creative team from last season's critically acclaimed production at The American Repertory Theatre. Tony Award winners James Earl Jones, Amanda Plummer, and Elizabeth Ashley, two-time Emmy Award winner Dana Delany, and Drama Desk Award winners Bill Heck and Susannah Perkins lead the reading's all-star cast. The cast also included Acting Company founding member Dakin Matthews (The Iceman Cometh, Waitress), Brian Cross (The Snow Geese), Stacia Fernandez (Mamma Mia), Richmond Hoxie (I'm Not Rappaport), Kiko Macan, Matt Morrison, Hannah Sharafian, and Mike Turner.

In a ramshackle resort perched at the edge of the Mexican jungle, a group of troubled travelers seeks shelter from a storm. Based on his 1948 short story, Williams' drama follows a hotel proprietress and the defrocked Southern preacher who turns up on her veranda. A Nantucket portrait artist traveling with her ancient grandfather, a bus full of fuming Texan college administrators, and a party of vacationers collide in this drama about the impossible journey to outrun the demons within.

Founded in 1972 by legendary producer/director/actor John Houseman and previous Producing Director Margot Harley with members of the first graduating class of Juilliard's Drama Division, The Acting Company has performed 144 productions for over 4 million people. The Company has given a generation of actors the opportunity to master their craft. Alumni members include Kevin Kline, Rainn Wilson, Patti LuPone, David Schramm, Jesse L. Martin, Frances Conroy, Jeffrey Wright, Harriet Harris, Hamish Linklater and Keith David.

Promoting theater and literacy with a repertory of classical productions and exceptional new works, talented young actors and veteran teaching artists, The Acting Company performs each year to audiences of over 25,000 and reaches more than 15,000 students with its arts education programs: Learning Through Theater, Primary Shakespeare and Shakespeare for Teachers.

The Company has commissioned and premiered over a dozen new plays and adaptations by America's foremost writers, among them Lynn Nottage Beth Henley, Tony Kushner, Marsha Norman, Rebecca Gilman, Maria Irene Fornes, Ntozake Shange, William Finn, David Grimm, and Marcus Gardley. Premiere productions include X: Or, Betty Shabazz v. The Nation, Love's Fire, Desire, Orchards, Pudd'nhead Wilson, The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, and Mud River Stone.

The Acting Company has been honored with numerous awards, including the Obie, Audelco, Los Angeles Critics Circle Award and a Tony for Excellence in Theater.

Photo Credit: Marina McClure