Reed Birney, Emily Skeggs & More Set for GTG/Project Shaw's FANNY'S FIRST PLAY Tonight

Gingold Theatrical Group's PROJECT SHAW production of Shaw's rarely produced, Fanny's First Play, is set for tonight, June 22 at 7pm, at Symphony Space's Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre (2895 Broadway at 95th St.).

Fanny's First Play, which features a play within a play, is a satire of theater critics, whose characters were based upon Shaw's own detractors. Originally, Shaw had the play produced anonymously in 1911 and it caused a sensation. Ironically, the play was Shaw's first real commercial success. The plot involves the daughter (Emily Skeggs) of a man (Reed Birney) who refuses to live in the present. She writes an incendiary play, anonymously, and invites a group of critics to review it.

This play inspired P.G. Wodehouse to create his Jeeves and Wooster stories.

The cast features Tony nominee Reed Birney (Count O'Dowda), Tony nominee Emily Skeggs (Fanny O'Dowda), Matthew Newton (Juggins), and Dominic Cuskern (Cecil Savoyard).

The cast of Fanny's Play: Dan Daily (Robin Gilbey), Jeff Kready (Bobby), Jana Robbins (Mrs. Gilbey), Nancy Anderson (Dora Delaney), Laura Kenyon (Mrs. Knox), Drama Desk and Obie Award winner Everett Quinton (Joseph Knox), Nick Spangler (Lieutenant Duvallet), and Emily Skeggs (Margaret Knox)

The critics will be played by local theater journalists: Frank DiLella (NY-1) as Mr. Vaughan, Michael Sommers (New Jersey Newsroom) as Mr. Trotter, Matt Windman (amNY) as Flawner Bannal, and Jason Zinoman (The New York Times) as Mr. Gunn. Roma Torre of NY-1 will narrate.

Tickets are $30 and are available by calling (212) 864-5400 or online at www.symphonyspace.org. Symphony Space's Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre space is completely disabled accessible. Symphony Space is located in Manhattan at 2537 Broadway (at 95th Street).

Now celebrating its 10th year, Gingold Theatrical Group's Project Shaw made history in December 2009 as the first company ever to present performances of every one of Shaw's 65 plays (including full-length works, one-acts and sketches).

The season continues July 20 with Man and Superman, Sept. 21 with a Chekhov Comedy Event, Oct. 19 with The Doctor's Dilemma, Nov. 23 with John Bull's Other Island and Dec. 21 with The Shewing-Up Of Blanco Posnet.

For more information about Project Shaw and the Gingold Theatrical Group contact 212-355-7823 or info@gingoldgroup.org or www.projectshaw.org.

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