The Obie-winning Monday night series begins with a benefit performance of Paula Vogel's Desdemona, hosted by Academy Award winner Marisa Tomei. Hecht, Gummer and Ikeda star in the production, described as "a satirical and provocatively alternate view of Shakespeare's Othello as seen from the perspective of the women in the play." Live music and a cocktail reception with the performers will follow the reading, which is directed by Red Bull artistic director Jesse Berger.
The season continues on Oct. 8 when Mathew Rauch, John Douglas Thompson, Kevin Massey, Griffin Matthews, Tony Torn, Molly Ward, David Patrick Kelly and Juliana Francis take part in the Jacobean tragedy The Changeling by Thomas Middleton and William Rowley, under the direction of Karin Coonrod.
Melanie Marnich's contemporary lyrical re-telling of The Changeling, entitled Tallgrass Gothic, follows on Oct. 22. Tony Award winner Michael Cerveris and Michael Chernus star, with direction by Well helmer, Leigh Silverman.
The Pillowman's Michael Stuhlberg returns to the Revelation Readings alongside Tony winner Ellen McLaughlin to headline Albert Camus' The Just Oct. 29. Eric McSweeny (Best Man) directs Anthony Clarvoe's adaptation, which is set "inside a terrorist cell circa 1905 and peer[s] into the hearts and minds of young people willing to kill and die for what they believe."
Nov. 12 will feature The Rover, by Alphra Behn, adapted by John Barton. Eleanor Holdridge directs the Restoration comedy set in 17th-century Spain, featuring Daniel Breaker and Carla Harting. On Nov. 26 Tony Award winner Richard Easton and Tony and Academy Award nominee Lynn Redgrave star in The Lady's Not for Burning, directed by Tony winner Joseph Hardy. Christopher Fry's comedy, according to press notes, is set "in a world of hypocrisy, post-war superstition and witch-hunting, [where] a man returns from war to find love and redemption in spite of his circumstances, all in a hilariously chaotic mix of characters wrapped up in a poetic tangle of fun."
Closing the Revelation Reading series on Jan. 21 are Tony Award winner Roger Rees and Philip Goodwin in James Shirley's The Cardinal. Carl Forsman directs Rees and Goodwin in the Elizabethan drama, which "explores corruption in the church through a wonderfully tangled web of deceit, plots, love affairs, poison and death."
Red Bull's inaugural works-in-progress series, entitled In-the-Raw, will commence in January 2008, featuring one of two productions. David Grimm's Once in Elysium is described as "an exploration of the life and death of art historian Johann Winckelmann – a journey full of intrigue, art, philosophy, sex, and murder in 18th century Europe." Also contending for the premiere slot is Kay Matschullat's contemporary revision of Alfred de Musset's On ne badine pas avec l'amour, entitled Don't Fuck With Love, under the direction of Lear deBessonet.
The Red Bull Theater Company's Revelation Readings will be held at Playwrights Horizons' Peter Jay Sharp Theater, with the exception of Desdemona, which will take place on Playwrights' main stage. Playwrights Horizons is located in Manhattan at 416 West 42nd Street. Tickets are available by visiting www.ticketcentral.com or by calling (212) 279-4200.
For further information visit www.redbulltheater.com.
