Public readings of the developing musical based on the Maupin series began July 4 and are scheduled for July 8 and 11 at 8 PM. In order to accommodate ticket demand, the O'Neill Center has added a performance at 2 PM on July 11.

Tony nominee Jason Moore (Shrek, Avenue Q, Steel Magnolias) directs the musical that features a score by Scissor Sisters band members Jason Sellards (lyrics) and John Garden (music), a book by Tony winner Jeff Whitty (Avenue Q) and musical direction by Stephen Oremus (Wicked, 9 to 5).

The cast includes Candy Buckley, Mary Birdsong, Jeffrey Carlson, Diane Davis, Christopher J. Hanke, John Jellison, Steve Kazee, Jose Llana, Matt McGrath, Betsy Wolfe and Kristine Zbornik.

Tales of the City, according to press notes, "follows a community of friends, lovers, and others who reside at the mythical address of 28 Barbary Lane in 1976 San Francisco. Mary Ann Singleton, a fresh arrival from Ohio, falls into a diverse band of Bohemians and blue-bloods, as families are created and rediscovered under the watchful eye of mystical landlady Anna Madrigal."

Armistead Maupin's "Tales of the City," has also been adapted into several television miniseries featuring performances by Olympia Dukakis, Laura Linney, Chloe Webb, Marcus D'Amico, Donald Moffat, Thomas Gibson, Barbara Garrick, Nina Foch, Paul Gross, Stanley DeSantis and Philip Moon. Tickets for the O'Neill Conference readings are available by phoning (860) 443-1238 or visit www.theoneill.org.

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center was founded in 1964 and is based in Waterford, CT. Programs at the Center include the Puppetry Conference, Playwrights Conference, Critics Institute, Music Theater Conference and the National Theater Institute. The Monte Cristo Cottage, O'Neill's childhood home, is also owned and operated by the group.