Star Studded Benefit Play Reading
Sex and the City’s Cynthia Nixon and Mad Men’s John Slattery took the stage in a one-night only reading of the quirky comedy, Hate Mail, by Bill Corbett and Kira Obolensky, for Opening Act’s 5th Annual Benefit Play Reading on Monday, December 6th, 2010. Directed by Broadway veteran Michael Mastro (West Side Story, Side Man) and held at New World Stages, Hate Mail reunited Nixon and Slattery after their award-winning performances in Broadway’s Rabbit Hole.
The evening began with a pre-show reception, sponsored by Naturally Delicious, Bedell Cellars, and William Greenberg Desserts. Guests mingled around Silent Auction items that included a stay for two in an exclusive Caribbean resort, Broadway tickets and backstage tours, spa and yoga packages, a Mad Men DVD collection, an Empire State Building Tour package, and more!
Just before the reading, Opening Act’s 2010 Student Scholars gave an inspiring performance that chronicled several students’ journeys through Opening Act with true-to-life messages from actual teaching artists, students, their teachers, and their families. Applause was resonant as Nixon and Slattery walked on stage. Following the performance, VIP Ticket Holders enjoyed a post-show champagne toast and photo shoot with the cast.
The extraordinary evening was Opening Act’s most successful benefit to date, raising critical funds for theater in NYC’s most high-need schools! To re-live the night, check out event pictures here.
John Slattery, Cynthia Nixon, playwright Bill Corbett, & Michael Mastro with Opening Act Students & Staff - photo by Chase Coughlin
Special thanks to all who attended and supported the event! Especially to:
The entire Cast and Creative Team of HATE MAIL, including Cynthia Nixon, John Slattery, & Michael Mastro
Hate Mail Sponsors
HBO * Susan Mufson * BGC Partners
Reception Sponsors
Naturally Delicious * Bedell Cellars * William Greenberg Desserts
Contributors
ABG Print * King Displays * Relish Designs
Hate Mail Silent Auction Donors
Boqueria * Caravan of Yogis * Delmonico’s * Elite Island Resorts * Karoline Barwinski, Yoga Instructor * Leota New York * Metropolis Ensemble * Naked Angels * On Location Tours * Organize and Create Discipline with Justin Klosky * Salsa212 with Winsome * Tribeca Grill
Hate Mail Steering Committee
Marie Anderson * Rasik Chopra * Gina Grandi * Louisa Higgins * Suzy Myers Jackson * Justin Klosky * Elizabeth Buckley Lewis * Kate Perkins * Sonali Shah * Sandy Southwell * Matt Walters
Hate Mail Host Committee
David Bernstein * Camille Chow * Leah Day * Zeynep Gumus * Samara Heafitz * Janet Jenness * Eliud Kauffman * Meredith Levy * Victor Lirio * Nehanda Loiseau * Yina Luo * Corinne Marceau * Tod Mercy * Kym Mills * Charles Moran * Amanda Navarro * Bill Oliver * Harli Salazar * Johnathan Sandler * Cari Smulyan * Shannon Stagman * Soyoon Sung * Jordan Thomas * Deanna Tilley * Sheila Wang * Chuck Watson * Bennett Windheim
Opening Act’s annual Star-Studded Benefit Play Reading raises critical funds for our programs in NYC’s most under-served schools, while providing our audience with an unforgettable night of theater. Our previous sold-out events have featured the talents of Bernadette Peters, Andrew McCarthy, Michael Badalucco, Laura Benanti, Michael Berresse, and Alicia Minshew. Opening Act’s last event, in November 2008, brought together the original cast of Broadway’s Tony Award winning play, Side Man, including Edie Falco (The Sopranos, Nurse Jackie). Check out what Side Man actors and Opening Actors had to say about the impact of theater in their lives here.
