Viola Davis, Arija Bareikis & More to Reunite for Roundabout's INTIMATE APPAREL Benefit Reading, 6/15

Roundabout Theatre Company has announced a special benefit reading of INTIMATE APPAREL, by Lynn Nottage with Daniel Sullivan reprising his direction.

Reuniting for one night only are the stars of the 2004 award winning production: two-time Tony Award winner Viola Davis, Arija Bareikis, Lynda Gravátt, Russell Hornsby, Corey Stoll and Lauren Vélez.

The reading will take place on Sunday, June 15 at 7:00PM in the Laura Pels Theatre to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Harold & Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre. The celebration will also honor the continued support of the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Charitable Trust and the Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater.

All proceeds will benefit Roundabout's New Play Initiative. Created in 1995, this Initiative cultivates new works and artists through commissions, developmental readings and workshops, and full-scale productions. To date, Roundabout has commissioned 18 playwrights, conducted developmental readings and workshops of over 100 new works, presented 37 premiere productions, and employed over 5,000 artists across all aspects of our New Play Initiative. Each year, the New Play Initiative costs nearly $1.8M.

In 2004, Intimate Apparel was the inaugural production of Roundabout Theater Company's off-Broadway venue: the Laura Pels Theatre at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre. During its acclaimed engagement, Intimate Apparel received the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award (Best Play), a Drama Desk Award (Best Actress in a Play for Viola Davis), an Outer Critics Circle Award (Best Play), the Outer Critics Circle Award John Gassner Award (Best Play), an Obie Award (Outstanding performance for Viola Davis), a PEN/Laura Pels Foundation Award for Drama, an American Theatre Critic's Assoc. Francesca Primus Award (Best Play) and a Steinberg New Play Award. Intimate Apparel played in hundreds of theaters across the country, following its premiere at Roundabout.

Following the production of Intimate Apparel, the cast has gone on to major accomplishments in film, TV and stage. For instance, Viola Davis was nominated for two Academy awards, two Golden Globes and many more awards for her film work. She also won her second Tony award for Fences in 2010. Corey Stoll broke out in the film world playing Ernest Hemingway in Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris and in Netflix's "House of Cards". Lauren Vélez starred on Showtime's "Dexter" for six years and Russell Hornsby is currently the star of NBC's "Grimm."

"When we produced Lynn's gorgeous play in 2004, it was a seminal moment for Roundabout," Haimes said. "With the support of the Steinberg Charitable Trust and Laura Pels, we were able to renovate the Steinberg Center and we couldn't have dreamed up a better production to open the new space. It is a thrill to have Dan Sullivan, Viola Davis and the whole company back to hear the play again, 10 years later. We are eternally grateful to the Steinberg Charitable Trust and Laura Pels for their ongoing support of our Off-Broadway endeavors."

This evening is made possible by the Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater.

VIP, Premium, and Benefactor tickets at $500 to $2500 include admission to exclusive pre and post show cast parties with all proceeds to benefit not-for-profit Roundabout Theatre Company's New Play Initiative. Please call (212) 719-9393 x369 to purchase. Tickets are also available at $140 and $200 at www.roundabouttheatre.org/intimateapparel.

Photo Credit: Lisa O'Connor/ZUMAPRESS.com