Staged Reading of ME & JEZEBEL to Benefit Theatre Artists Workshop

ME AND JEZEBEL, a staged reading to benefit the Theatre Artists Workshop, will be presented Friday September 23 at 8pm, Saturday September 24 at 8pm and Sunday September 25 at 3pm at the Theatre Artists Workshop (5 Gregory Blvd., East Norwalk, CT 06855, www.taworkshop.org.) All tickets $20.00. Box office opens at 7PM Fri. and Sat, 2PM Sun.

Tickets can be reserved, for this event only: theatricalproductionsmanagementworldwide.com/ContactForReservations.html. Confirmation will be emailed. Or reserve by phone at 440-221-6416. All reserved tickets should be picked up and paid for at the box office at least 30 minutes before curtain.

There will be a wine and cheese party following the Sunday matinee as well as an auction which will include mink earmuffs salvaged from the iconic mink coat from "All About Eve," an original Miggs Burroughs lenticular art piece depicting Bette Davis as Margo Channing and Baby Jane, and the show's poster designed by Dianne Bernhard, former President of the National Arts Club. All proceeds will benefit the Theatre Artists Workshop.

On May 28, 1985, star-struck Elizabeth Fuller's dream came true when the legendary Bette Davis came to dinner at her dilapidated New England cottage. Four weeks later, as the hotel strike in New York raged on, she was still there. In one short month she conquered suburbia took over the Fullers' home and changed their life forever.

ME AND JEZEBEL is a candidly funny day-to-day account of trying to please the irascible queen of Hollywood in so adverse a condition as ordinary life - it's a look at the explosive, intimidating and demanding Bette Davis that no fan would expect: participating in a séance, berry picking, signing autographs at McDonald's, and remaining every inch the superstar while riding shotgun in a beat up Toyota!

Also on display at the Theatre will be three never before seen poems written by Davis herself, who hid them in the Fuller home before she left. They are thought to be her first crack at poetry writing. Other personal belongings of Bette Davis will be in the show including the stunning sapphire and pearl bracelet that she always wore, one of her cocktail dresses, a jewel encrusted ball gown, the kiddy table that she autographed and used at cocktail time and the chandelier that once hung in her dining room.

ME AND JEZEBEL is currently playing around the world. It is currently running in Prague, Munich, Berlin, and Warsaw. It has been in Athens, Sydney, Melbourne, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, San Paolo, Brazil and London.

The cast of ME AND JEZEBEL is comprised of Marci Bing who has received widespread acclaim for her portrayal of Bette Davis. Elizabeth Fuller, who actually lived the experience, plays herself.

Elizabeth Fuller (Playwright) is the author of ten published books. She is an Op-Ed contributor to the New York Times and playwright of four Spaghetti Musicals, which ran in outdoor dinner theatre in New Haven, CT for the past four years. However, the project closest to Elizabeth's heart is Me and Jezebel, which was first written as a book. Three years ago it had its 20th year revival Off Broadway at the Snapple Theatre where Elizabeth played herself. Director, Mark S. Graham, first read it when it was still in manuscript form and from that moment on they have worked closely taking it from the written page to a one person show that toured the country to a two person play that is currently playing around the world. The book has recently been optioned for a major motion picture. Elizabeth is also the inventor of the irreverent board game "Fleece the Flock" which gives TV Evangelists two weeks to get out of town. When the board game first came out Playboy Magazine gave it a free half page ad as their nod of approval.

Marci Bing has appeared in more than 75 productions in regional theaters throughout the East Coast. Having performed in Mainstage, Children's Theatre, Cabaret, Touring Productions, Concerto, Film and Commercials, her favorite roles include Bette Davis in "Me and Jezebel," Shirley in "Shirley Valentine," Louise in "Always, Patsy Cline," Maria Callas in "Master Class," Mrs. Lovett in "Sweeney Todd," and Lynn in "Steel Magnolias."

Mark S. Graham (Director) has directed over 100 plays and musicals including the premiere of Elizabeth Fuller's Me and Jezebel at The Actor's Playhouse. Mark worked with Ms. Fuller to develop the play from her book. He has produced and directed Me and Jezebel in productions across the country including a production starring Jim Bailey. Mark directed John O'Hern's Rooster in the Henhouse at Theater Row. At Feinstein's in NYC, he directed Barbara Schottenfeld's cabaret act. Mark staged a musical version of Dark of the Moon narrated by Werner Klemperer at The Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. He directed the premiere of Sweetspot, a comedy about golf addiction by John O' Hern. He directed E. Katherine Kerr in Ann Richards, Backwards in High Heels at the Abingdon Theater. At the Theatre for The New City, Mark recently co-directed Renovations, a new play by William Russell, Mark has directed and co-produced Stan Lachow's Harry and Thelma in The Woods in readings with Rue McClanahan and productions at The New Jersey Rep and the Hollywood Playhouse. He is currently developing a play about the life of William Shakespeare, entitled Shakespeare in The Dark by Mary Jane Schaefer, which will be read at the National Arts Club in September. For ten years, Mark was a producing partner with the late Tony Award winning producer Lester Osterman. He began his career as general manager of Lucille Lortel's White Barn Theater. Mark is a founding member of the Downtown Cabaret Theater. Mark has an MFA in Directing from the University of Connecticut. He has served as a board member of Westport Country Playhouse and Playhouse on the Green. In addition, Mark is a thirty year member of The Theatre Artist's Workshop.

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