Jane Houdyshell is 'Mama' in New Groups' MAMA'S BOY Reading, 12/6

Jayne Houdyshell of Bye Bye Birdie, Well, and Wicked fame is slated to play the mother Lee Harvey Oswald, Marguerite, in The New Group's upcoming reading of Mama's Boy: The Woman Behind the Man who Killed Kennedy by Rob Urbinati.  The reading will be held on December 6 as part of the theater's Dark Nights series at the Acorn Theatre at Theater Row, 7:00pm.

David McCallum reunites with Urbinati to direct the reading.  Previously, McCallum directed the world premiere of Urbinati's West Moon Street.  McCallum's additional credits include the world premiere of Itamar Moses' Back Back Back, Charles Mee's Queens Boulevard, and Quiara Hudes' Pulitzer Prize finalist Elliot: A Soldier's Fugue. 

Houdyshell will be joined on stage by Natalia Zvereva (Memory House) as Marina Oswald, Barret O'Brien (Conspirators) as Robert Oswald and Greg Keller (Uncle Vanya) as Lee Harvey Oswald.

In show centers on Marguerite Oswald's testimony before the Warren Commission, and her relationship with her son in the years leading up to and just following the assassination of JFK. 

The Dark Nights series, presented by The New Group, features cultural conversations and readings shared by performers and audiences. The 90-minute events take the audience inside The New Groups' development process for Current Productions and additional works. 

Tickets to the reading are $20 and are available by calling (212) 279-4200. The Acorn Theatre is located at 410 West 42nd Street. This event is free to New Group subscribers. For more information, visit www.thenewgroup.org.

Photo Credit: Ben Strothmann