Maharaj, who is also the artistic director of the Rebel Theater Company, will direct his play that focuses on the "Little Rock Nine," the historic group of African-American students who enrolled at the segregated Little Rock Central High School in 1957 and were initially denied entry by the Governor, but were later officially allowed entry by President Eisenhower. The decision was seen as a key turning point in the Civil Rights Movement. The readings cast Uggams as Arkansan #5. Presentations will take place Sept. 29 at 7 PM, and Sept. 30 at 12 PM and 7 PM.

Uggams starred opposite James Earl Jones in the 2005 Broadway revival of On Golden Pond. A Tony winner for her Broadway debut in Hallelujah, Baby!, Uggams has appeared in Thoroughly Modern Millie, King Hedley II, Anything Goes, Jerry's Girls, Blues in the Night and Her First Roman on Broadway. She earned an Emmy for her work on television's "Fantasy" and appeared as Kizzy Reynolds in the award-winning miniseries "Roots."

Maharaj was the assistant director of the Tony Award–winning 2004 Broadway revival of A Raisin in the Sun. His plays include Mississippi Night, Diss Diss & Diss Dat, Twenty-Five, Gray, Children of the Dream and BlackfootNotes.

The Union Square Theatre is located at 100 East 17 Street. For further information, e-mail [email protected].