By Ernio Hernandez
and Kenneth Jones
26 Oct 2009

Dianne Wiest
photo by Andrew Eccles

Dianne Wiest, Debra Monk, Jason Butler Harner, Zoe Kazan, Cassie Beck, Cristin Milioti, Sue Jean Kim, Carmen M. Herlihy and Greg Keller will be featured in Playwrights Horizons' upcoming Stories on 5 Stories benefit, Nov. 9.

The evening of brief new plays, staged in unconventional spaces within the Off-Broadway company's 42nd Street complex, returns with shows starting at 8 PM.

Diane Wiest (Memory House), Debra Monk (Curtains), Jason Butler Harner (Stage Manager), Zoe Kazan (100 Saints You Should Know), Cassie Beck (The Drunken City), Cristin Milioti (The Retributionists), Sue Jean Kim (BFE), Carmen M. Herlihy (The Thugs) and Greg Keller (Uncle Vanya). More performers will be announced shortly.

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The walkabout experience — in which donors witness scenes in nooks of the five-story headquarters — includes works by seven of the theatre's alumni writers: Adam Bock (The Drunken City), composer Randy Courts (Jack's Holiday), Adam Rapp (Essential Self-Defense), Jonathan Reynolds (Geniuses), Evan Smith (The Savannah Disputation), Kathleen Tolan (A Girl's Life) and Sarah Treem (A Feminine Ending).

This year's theme for Stories on 5 Stories is "The Elephant in the Room." According to PH, "In an image-hungry culture, we love the theatre because it's about language. But so often it's not about what's said but also what's not said. For this year's Stories on 5 Stories the writers will take on the theme Elephant in the Room; writing and staging seven-minute plays about this theme in unique, far-flung locations throughout our five-story building. Guests tour the building in groups to see all of the works and then gather together for a concluding reception."

The event at Playwrights' home at 416 West 42nd Street will benefit the company's annual programs and productions.

Artistic director Tim Sanford stated, "Stories on 5 Stories has been a favorite event of the staff and board of Playwrights Horizons ever since its inception six years ago. This event inspires creativity and builds community, and the evening always delights, whether we're sitting in the costume shop listening to a song or fitting 25 people into our conference room for a play. I'm pleased to welcome back these remarkable writers, some who have spent a great deal of time in our beautiful six year-old building and others who were around long before the building was a twinkle in our eye, all of whom will write pieces celebrating this space, this theatre and this not-to-be-missed evening."

Tickets are priced at $150 ("Talk is Cheap" ticket — a single ticket to the 8 PM shows and post-show dessert reception) and $325 ("Too Big to be Ignored” ticket — a single ticket for the pre-event dinner, shows and post-show reception).

The event is strictly limited to 200 people, and it is anticipated that tickets will sell quickly.

Tickets can be reserved by visiting the Playwrights Horizons website playwrightshorizons.org or by calling Michelle Kiefel at (212) 564-1235, extension 3143.