Directed by Daniel Sullivan, who helmed the recent Broadway production of The Merchant of Venice, the cast featured Nathan Lane as editor Walter Burns; Billy Crudup as reporter Hildy Johnson; John Larroquette as the mayor; and Dan Lauria as the sheriff.
In The Front Page, according to previous production notes, "the court press room is full of poker-playing reporters, all waiting to cover the execution of radical leftist Earl Williams. Top reporter Hildy Johnson is engaged and planning to leave the life of chasing headlines and move to New York. When Williams escapes from the inept Sheriff, Hildy’s scheming editor - Walter Burns - tempts Johnson to stay and write the story." The comedy debuted in 1928.
The reading, the Times says, "was organized for Mr. Richards and Mr. Sullivan to hear the play afresh and gauge its artistic and commercial viability."