Emily Bergl (The Lion in Winter) stars as the title character in several readings of John Pielmeier's Agnes of God with Barbara Bain and Harriet Harris at the Skirball Center Oct. 27-31. The readings, directed by Nancy Malone, will be taped for radio broadcast via KCRW 89.9 FM.
Bain created the role of Cinnamon Carter in "Mission Impossible," becoming the first woman to receive three consecutive Emmy Awards for Best Dramatic Actress. Her stage appearances include Wings, Happy Days, Long Day's Journey Into Night and The Chairs for which she has won Critic's Cirle and Drama-Logue Awards. Along with her Broadway debut in the Stockard Channing-Laurence Fishbourne Lion in Winter, Bergl co-starred with Neil Patrick Harris in the Old Globe's Romeo and Juliet and played Rachel Lang in "The Rage: Carrie 2." Harris has performed at numerous theatres including the Manhattan Theatre Club, Roundabout Theatre Company, New York Shakespeare Festival, Long Wharf Theatre and Yale Repertory. With recurring roles on "Fraiser" and "Law and Order," she has also been seen on "Ally McBeal," Caroline in the City," Ellen" and "Chicago Hope."
Based on an actual newspaper account, Anges of God tells the story of a nun, Agnes, whose strangled newborn baby is found in a wastebasket. Against the wishes of the Mother Superior, who believe Agnes is touched by God, Dr. Martha Livingstone attempts to reconstruct the night Agnes killed her child. Pielmeier is also the author of The Boys of Winter, Sleight of Hand and his most recent Broadway production, the thriller Voices in the Dark.
Tickets are $35-$31 and available by calling the TheatreWorks box office at (310) 827-0889. Performances run at the Skirball Center at 2701 N. Sepulveda Boulevard.
All "The Play's the Thing" theatre productions are recorded for future broadcast on Santa Monica College's KCRW 89.9 FM. Productions have won several awards including the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's Gold and Silver Awards, three Sony Awards, the Writer's Guild of America's Best Comedy Award and the 1999 Audie Award for Best Dramatic Production from the Audio Publishers Association. -- By Christine Ehren
