Lansbury, Garber, Conroy, Harris and More Set for Acting Company Benefit

By Andrew Gans
September 8, 2005

A host of stage and screen stars will take part in a benefit for The Acting Company on Oct. 10 at the Brentwood Theatre in Los Angeles.

The 7 PM event will feature a staged reading of This Is On Me: An Evening of Dorothy Parker, which was adapted by Tom Fontana. The starry company will include Angela Lansbury, Victor Garber, Frances Conroy, Lisa Banes and Harriet Harris.

Born in New Jersey in 1893, Dorothy Parker's Broadway credits include the plays Close Harmony, After Such Pleasures and The Ladies of the Corridor. She also wrote the music and lyrics for the musical revue Shoot the Works and contributed lyrics to Candide. She was nominated for two Academy Awards: in 1938 for the screenplay of "A Star Is Born" and in 1948 for "Smash-Up: The Story of a Woman." Parker died June 7, 1967, having become one of the most successful women writers of her era.

The Acting Company, America's foremost touring repertory theatre and arts education program, was honored in 2003 with the Tony for Excellence in Theater. Founded in 1972 by John Houseman and Margot Harley, its alumni include Kevin Kline, Patti LuPone, Jeffrey Wright, Frances Conroy, Casey Biggs and Jesse L. Martin.

Tickets for the evening are available by calling (213) 365-3500 or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.