Arden joins fellow cast members Kerry Butler, Colin Hanlon and Steven Pasquale for the Dec. 21 readings at Joe's Pub. Show times are 7 and 9 PM. Kristin Hanggi will helm the reading of Easter Rising, which features a score by Arden and a book by Isaac Oliver. Easter Rising, according to production notes, "concerns the last few weeks of a man's life. As his battle with a terminal cancer draws near, he confronts buried relationships with his estranged childhood friend and struggles with the dilemma of balancing a love for his fiancé and this man from his past. Set in Plano, Texas this four person musical questions the limits of love, definition of family and the morals we pass on to our children when our own are in debate." An earlier presentation of the musical at Makor featured the talents of Gavin Creel, Eden Espinosa, Evan Pappas, Eden Riegel, Sara Gettelfinger, Matthew Morrison, Shoshana Bean, Max von Essen, Kirsten Rossi, Norm Lewis, Michael Hunsaker and Santino Fontana.

Michael Arden has appeared on the New York stage in Bare: A Pop Opera, Big River, The Vampire Lestat, It's Only Life and Harold & Maude. His regional credits include God of Vengeance; Falsettoland; Art, Song Dance; West Side Story; Songs for a New World; The Common Pursuit and A Winter's Tale. A graduate of the Juilliard School, Arden's compositions include Easter Rising and As You Like It. He will again play Pippin in the upcoming Reprise! mounting of the Stephen Schwartz musical.

Joe's Pub is located within the Public Theater at 425 Lafayette Street; call (212) 539-8778 for reservations. Tickets are priced at $25.