Beth Fowler Replaces Rita Gardner in LOST IN YONKERS

Beth Fowler, who won two SAG Awards for her performance as Sister Jane Ingalls on the hit Netflix series "ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK", will play Grandma Kurnitz in this Sunday's benefit reading of LOST IN YONKERS.

Ms. Fowler, who is also a two-time Tony Award nominee, replaces the previously announced Rita Gardner, who has left the production due to illness.

Tim Realbuto, the evening's creator and co-director, said in a statement: "We all love Rita and wish her a speedy recovery. I very much hope to work with her in the near future. However, we are so thrilled to welcome the incredible Beth Fowler, who has thrilled audiences on Broadway for decades. Ms. Fowler also wanted me to mention that she dedicates her performance to the late, great Philip Bosco, an amazing talent that we will all miss terribly."

Ms. Fowler has been nominated for a Tony Award twice, once for her performance as Mrs. Lovett in the 1989 revival of SWEENEY TODD and a second time for playing Hugh Jackman's mother in THE BOY FROM OZ. Her numerous other Broadway credits include originating the role of Mrs. Potts in DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST; Mrs. Darling in PETER PAN; Arlene McNally in BABY; Lily Miller in TAKE ME ALONG; Edith Roosevelt in TEDDY & ALICE; Sue in the 2001 revival of BELLS ARE RINGING; and Mrs. Brady in the 2007 revival of INHERIT THE WIND.

Aside from her leading role on "ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK", Ms. Fowler has appeared in the films SISTER ACT; SISTER ACT 2: BACK IN THE HABIT; MULAN; DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MORGANS?; I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT; and on television in "GOSSIP GIRL"; "ELEMENTARY"; "ED"; "LAW AND ORDER"; and many others.

Fowler joins a cast that includes the previously announced Erin Davie (Drama Desk Award nominee for SIDE SHOW; GREY GARDENS; A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC) as Bella Kurnitz, Tim Realbuto (star of the upcoming motion picture YES) as Louie Kurnitz, Aidan Gemme (FINDING NEVERLAND; WAITING FOR GODOT) as Jay Kurnitz, Drew Logan Powell (Amazon's "THE DANGEROUS BOOK FOR BOYS") as Arty Kurnitz, Liz McCartney (TABOO; MY FAIR LADY; THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE) as Gert Kurnitz, and Graham Alexander Sack (original Arty in LOST IN YONKERS on Broadway) as Eddie Kurnitz.

LOST IN YONKERS tells the heart-warming and funny story of Jay (Gemme) and Arty (Powell) Kurnitz, who find their lives turned upside down when their father Eddie (Sack) moves south for work, leaving them with their no-nonsense Grandmother (Fowler) and their loving but absent-minded spinster Aunt Bella (Davie). Along the way, they're also introduced to their Uncle Louie (Realbuto), a small-time crook and their kind Aunt Gert (McCartney), who has developed a serious (but hilarious) breathing problem due to the fear that she has for her own mother. The play won the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for Drama as well as the Tony Award for Best Play.

The December 9th production will be presented as a semi-staged reading with proceeds from ticket sales going to The National Alzheimer's Association, in honor of the late Neil Simon who recently passed away from the disease.

The other half of the proceeds will go to the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, in honor of Broadway star Marin Mazzie. Jason Lalonde, the Manager of Development and Events at OCRA, will be a special guest at the event and give a pre-show speech.

The one night only event will take place at The Engleman Concert Hall, 55 Lexington Avenue, in NYC on Sunday, December 9th at 7:30 PM. Tickets, priced from $25-$100, can be purchased at https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe.c/10356449. Use the promotional code BELLA1 for discounted tickets (as low as $20).

Mr. Realbuto will co-direct the evening with Paul Mitchell Wilder. Mr. Wilder directed the premiere of MANAHATTA, which later workshopped at The Public Theatre In NYC. Ryan A. Ross (DESPERATE MEASURES) will serve as the Production Stage Manager.

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