Estelle Parsons To Direct Concert Reading of Johnny Johnson

Theatre legend & Academy Award winner Estelle Parsons will direct a rare concert reading of Paul Green and Kurt Weill's Johnny Johnson, with Ken Marks serving as Musical Director. The reading is the latest in the popular series of "Lost" Group Theatre Plays presented by the ReGroup Theatre Company. Johnny Johnson, Weill's first American composition, centers around a big hearted innocent named Johnny Johnson, the most common name of the killed American soldier in World War I, who during a celebration of peace, finds out that a new war has broken out. Against his instincts, Johnny enlists, befriends the other side, but his valiant efforts to end the war peacefully are defeated by bureaucracy. First stage by The Group in 1936, and again in 1971 by Jose Quintero, this rare masterpiece makes a one night return to New York at 7 PM on Dec 12th, 2011 at The 47th St Theatre, 304 W 47th St. Admission is free, but reservations are required.

A full house is expected, so please RSVP early by calling (212) 340-1054 or emailing RSVP@ReGroupTheatre.org

Johnny Johnson was originally directed by Lee Strasberg and featured Sanford Meisner, Luther Adler, Morris Carnovsky, Phoebe Brand, Bobby Lewis and John Garfield. ReGroup's production will feature George Bartenieff, William Best, Rachel Casparian, Emily Ciotti, David Dempsey, Linda Glick, Daniel Hainsworth, Con Horgan, Pete McElligott, Kelsey Moore, Allie Mulholland, James Patrick Nelson, Maurya Scanlon, Shelley Valfer, Steven Vause, Kate Warren, Zach Wegner, & Timothy Weinert.

The ReGroup recently presented an evening of scenes from all 23 of the famed Group Theatre plays at Symphony Space in honor of The Group's 80th Anniversary. They were joined on stage by Theatre legends such as Lois Smith and Frances Sternhagen, as well as Wendy Smith, author of the definitive Group Theatre book, Real Life Drama, Marsha Warren of the Paul Green Foundation and Patricia Palermo, biographer of Dawn Powell. They also have republished 3 of these lost plays for the first time in over 75 years available through Amazon.com. Recipients of financial support from The Jerome Robbins Foundation and The Puffin Foundation, The ReGroup plans to mount their first full production, Claire and Paul Sifton's 1931- in the very near future.

www.regrouptheatre.org

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