Berkshire Playwrights Lab Announces Casting for Matt Hoverman’s 'The Glint'

Berkshire Playwrights Lab will present a staged reading of Matt Hoverman's "The Glint" directed by Matthew Penn on Wednesday, August 10 at 7:30pm at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. The reading will feature actors Leslie Lyles, Kate MacCluggage, James Murtaugh, and Richard Poe. Admission is free, but reservations are suggested. For tickets, call 413.528.0100 or visit the Mahaiwe Box Office (14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, Mass.).

"The Glint" is a mature romantic comedy about aging folks with the hearts of teenagers. Characters Jerry and Chuck are 60 and still clinging to their dreams of success as voice-over pitchmen-and the promise of hot young women. This doesn't sit so well with Chuck's wife, Mary, who may or may not have a terminal illness. "We have been looking at Matt Hoverman's work for some time now," said Penn. He has a unique comic style and voice. We all read "The Glint" and called him the next day to come to the Lab."

Matt Hoverman's plays include "Who You See Here" (headed for Broadway 2012: Nelle Nugent, producer; Christopher Ashley, director), "In Transit" (2006 FringeNYC Best Playwriting Award), "The Student" (2009 Samuel French OOB Short Play Festival Winner), "The Audience" (co-book writer, 2005 Drama Desk Best New Musical Award Nominee), "Christmas Shorts" (Naked Angels, SoHo Playhouse, Bricks Theatre, Maples Rep), and "Searching for God in Suburbia" (Huntington Theatre's Breaking Ground Festival, Axial Theatre). He was an Edward Albee Foundation Fellow in 2008. Also an actor, Hoverman has voiced villains on many cartoons, including Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh! and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Brown University, BA in Playwriting; UCSD, MFA in Acting. For more information, see MattHoverman.com.

Matthew Penn is a co-artistic director of Berkshire Playwrights Lab. He has had roots in the Berkshires for over 40 years. He began his career as an actor appearing in a half-dozen films and more than 30 plays. He started directing for the stage at Ensemble Studio Theater in New York City. At EST his work has included: "The Pilots," "The Pursuit of Happiness," "Sundance," "Big Frogs," "Gangster Apparel," "Go to Ground," and many others. At the George Street Playhouse, he has directed "The Root" by Gary Richards, "Foxfire" starring Audra Lindley and James Whitmore and "The Engagement" by Richard Vetere. The delights of fatherhood and a desire for new challenges brought Penn into the world of television, where he has directed and/or produced over 150 prime time TV dramas.

Leslie Lyles (Mary) Most notable B'way appearances: "Ah Wilderness," directed by Dan Sullivan; "The Real Thing," directed by Mike Nichols. Most recently appeared at the George St. Playhouse in "Come Back Come Back Wherever You Are," written and directed by Arthur Laurents. Films include: "Wall Street," directed by Oliver Stone; "Man On The Moon," directed by Milos Forman. Most recent TV: Judge Jane on "The Good Wife. "

Kate MacCluggage (The Glint) Kate MacCluggage recently played Portia opposite F. Murray Abraham in "The Merchant of Venice" (Theater for a New Audience, Elliot Norton Award). Selected credits: "The Farnsworth Invention" (Broadway), "39 Steps" (Off-Broadway), "Three Sisters"(Assembly), "Noises Off" (DCTC), "Importance of Being Earnest" (PCS), "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (NCSF).

James Murtaugh (Chuck) appeared on Broadway in "Two Shakespearean Actors," "Philadelphia Here I Come," and Lincoln Center's "Ah Wilderness." This spring he was seen in the acclaimed The Actor's Company production of "Three Men On A Horse" on Theatre Row and as a guest star on "The Good Wife." He has two films coming out this fall: "I Don't Know How She Does It" with Pierce Brosnan and Sarah Jessica Parker, and this year's Cannes selection, "Return," with Michael Shannon. His television credits include many guest appearances on the various "Law & Orders." Film credits include "How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days" with Kate Hudson, "Out of Time" with Denzel Washington, and "Everyone's Fine" with Robert DeNiro. Jim is a member of The Ensemble Studio Theatre.

Richard Poe (Jerry) Broadway: "Cry-Baby," "M. Butterfly," "The Pajama Game," "Journey's End," "1776," "Our Country's Good," "The Dinner Party," "Moon Over Buffalo," "Fiddler on the Roof," "Girl Crazy," "Present Laughter." Off-Broadway: "Why Torture Is Wrong," "And The People Who Love Them" (Public), "Jeffrey" (Minetta Lane), "Hamlet" (Carnegie Hall), "Mr. Fox" (Signature), "Shrek" (Theater For A New Audience). TV: "Star Trek," "Frasier," "Law & Order," "Ed," "Queen," "The Prosecutors." Film: "Transamerica," "Burn After Reading," "Born on the Fourth of July," "Peacemaker," "The Jackal," "Presumed Innocent," "The Night We Never Met."

To post a comment, you must register and login.