Michael Mayer, who staged the original Off-Broadway and Broadway productions, returned to direct the benefit performance at New World Stages.

The cast featured Frank Wood and Edie Falco along with Kevin Geer, Michael Mastro, Robert Sella, Joseph Lyle Taylor and Angelica Torn.

The reading of the jazz-themed work benefited Opening Act, a nonprofit organization that provides free after-school theatre programming to New York City's public high schools.

Here are some shots from the event:

(back) Playwright Warren Leight, Kevin Geer, Michael Mastro, Joseph Lyle Taylor, Jeffry Binder and Robert Sella with (front) Frank Wood, Edie Falco and Angelica Torn

The Side Man cast with Opening Act students