The Alliance Theatre Company in Atlanta, GA, will host “Dark Into Light, Light Into Darkness: Atlanta Artists Respond,” an evening of readings to benefit the American Red Cross relief efforts in New York and Washington, DC.

The readings of dramatic literature and speeches will include excerpts from Shakespeare, Steinbeck, and Martin Luther King, Jr., read by Atlanta artists, including Del Hamilton, artistic director of Seven Stages; Tom Key, artistic director of Theatrical Outfit; Richard Garner, artistic director of the Georgia Shakespeare Festival; John Stephens, artistic director of Theatre Gael; performers from Jomandi Productions and Actors Express; WXIA TV anchor Brenda Wood; Kenny Leon and WSNB-TV political commentator Bill Nigut.

Alliance’s artistic director Susan Booth said in a statement, “Theatre has always been the place where we raise the human to the humane through the simple acts of shared storytelling and common reflection.”

The benefit will be held Monday, Sept. 24 at 8 PM at the Alliance Stage. It is free and open to the public, with all donations going to the Red Cross. For more information, call the Alliance Theatre Company at (404) 733 4650.

- by Steve Luber