Tony Shalhoub, Debra Monk and More Star in Reading of James Lapine's Adaptation of Moss Hart's ACT ONE

According to its website, the Vineyard Arts Project just held two "in-progress" readings on July 18 and 20 of Moss Hart's Act One, adapted for the stage by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and director James Lapine and commissioned by the Lincoln Center Theater.

The readings starred Tony Shalhoub ("Monk", Lend Me a Tenor), Debra Monk (Steel Pier, Redwood Curtain), Chuck Cooper (The Life, Caroline, or Change) and David Turner (On A Clear Day You Can See Forever). The cast also featured Brooke Adams, Ari Brand, David Henry Gerson, Kerry Kastin, Will LeBow, Ben Nadelstein and Zach Shaffer.

Act One has been in development at the Vineyard Arts Project from July 16 through today, July 21, 2012.

About the project, Vineyard's website states: "Moss Hart's ACT ONE is generally considered to be a classic and possibly the best theatre memoir. Published in 1959, ACT ONE chronicles Hart's years growing up poor in the Bronx and his introduction to the theater and his unlikely introduction and eventual partnership with the legendary playwright George S. Kaufman at the age of 24."

Lapine, the Tony Award winner who won the 1985 Pulitzer Prize for Drama with Stephen Sondheim for the musical Sunday in the Park with George, will also direct the show for Lincoln Center Theater.

Hart's other hits include You Can't Take It With You (1936) and The Man Who Came to Dinner (1939). You Can't Take It With You won the 1937 Pulitzer Prize for drama. In 1938, the film adaptation won the Best Picture Oscar.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / Retna Ltd.