Ed Begley Jr. had to drop out due to a conflict. A joint fundraiser for the Geffen Playhouse and Hazelden — a non-profit leader in addiction treatment for more than 60 years — the evening will feature a reading of the play, a post-show discussion with the cast and playwrights as well as a dessert reception.

Directed by Jenny Sullivan, Bill W. and Dr. Bob "recounts the story of Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Smith, two men whose friendship ultimately led to the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous. Together with their wives, who went on to develop Al-Anon Family Groups, their discoveries have touched and saved countless lives since the program's inception."

Bill W. and Dr. Bob debuted in 2007 with an award-winning run Off-Broadway before playing across the country. The goal now is a return to New York City and a national tour "which would travel to college campuses to fight the epidemic of binge drinking and provide scholarships to youth for treatment at Hazelden."

"In 1986, as doctors working with alcoholics and addicts, my wife and I stumbled across this astonishing story — a story not just about two drunks who were going to die and found a way, together, to live, but more — a great American success story about the suffering of isolation and the healing power of good connection," playwright Samuel Shem said in a statement. "Our dream — and our service — has been to find a way to run this show in perpetuity so it becomes an icon in New York, and then to use the revenues for a national college tour to combat binge drinking."

Dr. Samuel Shem and Dr. Janet Surrey, spouses, have been on the faculty of Harvard Medical School for many years and co-authored "We Have to Talk: Healing Dialogues Between Women and Men." Shem is the author of many novels, including the medical classic "The House of God." Tickets to the Geffen reading range from $75 to $250 and include the reading, Q&A and post-show reception with desserts. A limited number of VIP tickets include prime orchestra seating as well as an exclusive meet-and-greet with the actors and playwrights.

This work does not imply affiliation with or endorsement by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Learn more at www.hazelden.org. For more information about the journey of Bill W. and Dr. Bob, visit www.billwanddrbob.com.

For more information, visit www.geffenplayhouse.com or call the box office at (310) 208-5454.