Gabriel Barre (Off-Broadway's The Wild Party, Summer of '42 and Goodspeed's upcoming Amazing Grace) directs.

The Coward group surfaced earlier this year with a reading of the British writer's Design for Living. Like that reading, The Vortex, a 1924 tale of family turmoil, repressed passions and substance abuse, is seen at the Gershwin Hotel's "Living Room" at 7 PM. A presentation of songs by Coward featuring cabaret and concert star KT Sullivan precedes the reading at 6:30 PM. Violinist Filip Pogady is also part of the experience.

According to the company, whose artistic director is Merrill, The Vortex is "supremely witty and hilarious" but also a "visceral, hard hitting and potent drama. Drug abuse and sexual compulsion fuel this gritty tale of a family laid bare at the altar of truth."

Tickets are $18 and can be purchased at the door at 6 PM on April 16 but it is highly recommended to purchase them at www.noelandcompany.org.

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Noël and Company will also be creating the Summer Salon Series at Lincoln Center for The Noël Coward Festival in June/July.

Read more about the work of actor-playwright-songwriter-director Coward in the Playbill Vault.