Sarsgaard, Sparks, Etc. Join Salon Series' 'At War'

The Fire Dept, a New York Theatre Company founded in 2006, announced the final cast for the launch of "The Salon Series," staged readings of new plays that address compelling contemporary issues, on Monday, June 25 at 6:30PM at the National Arts Club (15 Gramercy Park South).

The first event in the series is "At War: American Playwrights Respond to Iraq." The previously announced Michael Cerveris, Julianna Margulies and David Strathairn will be joined by new cast members: Jason Antoon, Jessica Blank, David Calvitto, Judith Hawking, Laura Heisler, Sal Inzerillo, Erik Jensen, Ty Jones, Haskell King, Aasif Mandvi, Audrey Rosenberg, Jonathan Schaefer, Peter Sarsgaard, Jeremy Schwartz, Paul Sparks and Mather Zickel. Directed by Erica Gould.

According to press notes, "'At War' will comprise original theatrical material written by noted American Playwrights including Jose Rivera, Bathsheba Doran, Cory Hinkle, Rajiv Joseph, Jessica Blank, Erik Jensen, Ryan Kelly, Peter Maloney, Lynn Rosen, and Jonathan Schaefer, woven together to present a kaleidoscope of views on the war in Iraq."

The theatrical presentation will be followed by food, drink, and a discussion with the artists and the evening's guest speakers: Iraq war veteran, writer, and activist Paul Rieckhoff (Executive Director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) and author of the book Chasing Ghosts and Mark Crispin Miller (Professor of Media Studies, NYU, and author of Mad Scientists (a study of war propaganda), and Fooled Again: the Real Case for Electoral Reform.  They will be joined by a representative from Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict (www.civicworldwide.org), which provides humanitarian aid to civilian victims in Iraq.

Tickets ($35) for "At War: American Playwrights Respond to Iraq" are available through Theatermania at 212-352-3101 or 1-866-811-4111 and www.theatermania.com.  For casting updates and more detailed information about The Fire Dept and "The Salon Series," please go to www.thefiredept.org.

A portion of the proceeds for the evening will be donated to Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict.

Photo of Peter Sarsgaard by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.