Two-time Tony nominee Annette Bening will star in a benefit reading of Griswold, a new play by Angela J. Davis, November 11 at 7 PM. Off-Broadway's Playhouse Creatures Theatre Company (PCTC) and Broadway's A Is For present the evening at The Cooper Union.
Based on the life of activist Estelle Griswold, Davis' new work explores Griswold's legacy. As an activist, she fought for the establishment of a constitutional right to privacy in 1965, a right to protect individuals in matters of gender, sexuality, and reproductive freedom, among others.
Additional casting will be announced at a later date.
Bening is known for her work on screen and stage, beginning her acting career on stage before making her breakout in film with The Grifters. On Broadway, she starred in Jack O'Brian's revival of All My Sons and Coastal Disturbances, which both earned her Tony nominations. Bening's other stage credits include Have A Nice Day, King Lear, Ruth Draper Monologues, The Cherry Orchard, Talking Heads, Hedda Gabler, and Medea.
Proceeds from Griswold will support A Is For's mission "to de-stigmatize abortion and enhance access to reproductive services" as well as The Pink House Fund, previously known as Jackson Women's Health Organization, the only abortion clinic in Mississippi which was forced to close earlier this year with the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade. It is now re-opening in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Tatiana Pandiani will direct the reading, executive produced by Allison Bressi. Amy Sapp serves as associate producer with B. Rafidi as production coordinator. Artwork is by Kelly Schmidt, Digital Producer, Content & Media for PCTC.
The evening will feature musical entertainment, surprise guests, and door prizes as well as a post-show discussion moderated by PCTC's Associate Artistic Director Erica Stevens Abbitt.
For tickets and more information, visit EventBrite.com.
