As a result of curtain speeches given by Marian Seldes, the Primary Stages production of Terrence McNally's play Dedication or the Stuff of Dreams raised $17,374.44 for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Dedication was one of the first shows to raise money in the days following the disaster. The show, which closed this past Sunday, October 16th at 59E59 Theaters, began previews on July 26th and opened on August 18th.
Directed by Michael Morris (Slag Heap), Dedication or The Stuff Of Dreams by McNally (Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, Master Class, Ragtime, The Full Monty) starred Michael Countryman (Night Must Fall), Alison Fraser (March of the Falsettos, The Secret Garden), Tony Award-winner Nathan Lane (The Lisbon Traviata, Love! Valour! Compassion!, The Producers), Darren Pettie (Unwrap Your Candy, Measure for Measure), R.E. Rodgers, Seldes and Miriam Shor (Hedwig & the Angry Inch).The show concerned a life-changing encounter between Lou and Jessie Nuncle (Lane and Fraser), the producers of a struggling children's theatre, and Annabelle Willard, the owner of an abandoned grand theatre the Nuncle's covet. Seldes received a Tony Award for her performance in A Delicate Balance by Edward Albee, a playwright with whose work she is often associated (she also appeared in Three Tall Women off-Broadway). She garnered Tony nominations for her work in Dinner at Eight, Ring Round the Moon, Deathtrap and Father's Day, and was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for her performances in The Play About the Baby and The Butterfly Collection.
Primary Stages is currently presenting the new play In the Continuum, written and performed by Nikkole Salter and Danai Gurira and directed by Robert O'Hara, at 59E59 Theaters through October 30th. For more information, visit www.primarystages.com.