Co-artistic director Jim Frangione will direct the Aug. 12 staged reading at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington, MA. The 8 PM performance will also feature the talents of David Deblinger, Peter Fitzgerald, Bob Jaffe, Amelia McClain, Sean Patrick Reilly, Charles Socarides, Amy Van Nostrand and Sam Weisman. The new play, according to press notes, "concerns a character named Mac, who is a used car manager at Bristol Buick. The playwright describes Mac as 'a "car dog" through and through, a man who always gets what he wants. Right about now, he's sittin' pretty—with a strong sales team, excellent numbers, and a real shot at getting his own dealership. He's also got Heather: a honey who sells as good as she... looks.' The play poses the question: Can Mac, who loves the thrill ride, keep it together long enough to get what's coming to him?"

Grant Shaud is best known for playing Miles Silverberg on "Murphy Brown." His theatrical credits include Thicker Than Water at Ensemble Studio Theatre, After Ashley at Vineyard Theatre, Writers Block at Atlantic Theater, Today, I am a Fountain Pen at Theater 890 and Broadway's Torch Song Trilogy. His additional screen credits include "Medium," "Law and Order," "Pushing Daisies," "Oliver Beene," "Madigan Men," "Waltzing Anna" and "The Distinguished Gentlemen."

The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center is located at 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington. Admission is free. To reserve tickets, call (413) 528-2544 or (413) 528-0100. For more information visit www.berkshireplaywrightslab.org.