One of New York stalwart couples Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon will lend their talent to the Rattlestick Theatre Company's reading of Those Left Behind, Dec. 8 at 4 PM. The fundraiser will be one of the featured events focusing on the works of playwright Ben Bettenbender.

Sedgwick is best known for her film work in such movies as "Singles," "Murder in the First," "Phenomenon" and "Something to Talk About." Husband Bacon's creds include "Diner," "She's Having a Baby,"A Few Good Men," "Apollo 13" and "Footloose." Felice Yeh also stars with the duo.

Kyra's brother Rob, who is currently starring with Johanna Day (Proof) and Peter Jay Fernandez in Bettenbender’s Bliss at the Rattlestick Theater, will take part in a special performance Dec. 2 which will feature an after-show talkback session with playwright and cast.

The final special event for the up-and-coming scribe will be a reading of two one-act comedies, A Cat (And A Hat) and The Siren Song of Stephen Jay Gould Dec. 9. Simon Hammerstein directs a cast that includes Chris Messina, Darrell Larson, Justin Hagan.

Rattlestick Theatre,dedicated to the developing playwright, have recently brought to the New York such shows as Doug Field's Down South, Harry Kondoleon's Saved or Destroyed, Lucy Thurber's Killers and Other Family and Daniel MacIvor's See Bob Run. This season has included Adam Rapp's Faster, Bettenbender's Bliss and the upcoming production of Joe Hortua's Burning. For reservations to these events, contact The Rattlestick Theater, 224 Waverly Place, (just off Seventh Ave.) at (212) 627-2556. Tickets to Bliss can be purchased via SmartTix at (212) 206-1515 or visiting www.smarttix.com. For more information on Rattlestick, visit their website at www.rattlestick.org.

— by Ernio Hernandez