Monk, Esper, et al. Set for STORIES ON 5 STORIES, 11/1

Acclaimed theater company Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) has announced the initial line-up of performers participating in the popular return of its unique benefit event STORIES ON 5 STORIES on Monday evening, November 1. 

The sixteen performers include Tony and Obie Award winner Debra Monk (Assassins at PH; Redwood Curtain, Curtains), Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright and Obie Award-winning actor Michael Cristofer (The Shadow Box; as screenwriter: The Witches of Eastwick, Bonfire of the Vanities), Marylouise Burke (The Savannah Disputation at PH; Is He Dead?, Into the Woods), Michael Esper (Crazy Mary at PH; American Idiot, subUrbia), Sara Gettelfinger (Grey Gardens at PH; Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Annie Parisse (Clybourne Park and The Credeaux Canvas at PH; "Law & Order"), Paul Sparks (Essential Self-Defense at PH; Hedda Gabler), Obie winner Michael Potts (Grey Gardens at PH; The America Play), David AaRon Baker (Dead Man's Cell Phone at PH; A Raisin in the Sun), Peter Bartlett (the current A Free Man of Color, The Drowsy Chaperone; "One Life to Live"), Obie Award winner Barry Del Sherman (Moe's Lucky Seven at PH; American Beauty), Hale Appleman (Passion Play, Teeth), Chris Henry Coffey (Frank's Home at PH; "Law & Order: Criminal Intent"), Neal Huff (From Above at PH; Take Me Out), Nikki M. James (All Shook Up, The Wiz) and Jennifer Mudge (The Philanthropist, Reckless).

As previously announced, the event will feature new works by six of the theater's alumni writers and one rising star and PH staffer: Michael Cyril Creighton (PH debut; writer, creator and star of the hit online sitcom "Jack in a Box"), Kate Fodor (100 Saints You Should Know at PH; Hannah and Martin), Obie Award winner Melissa James Gibson (This at PH; [sic], Suitcase), Tony Award-winning composer Jack Herrick (Wilder at PH; Broadway's Fool Moon), Tony Award-winning director/librettist James Lapine (Sunday in the Park with George, March of the Falsettos, Falsettoland and Fran's Bed all at PH; Into the Woods), Marlane Meyer (Moe's Lucky Seven and The Chemistry of Change at PH; "Law & Order: Criminal Intent") and Peter Parnell (An Imaginary Life, The Rise and Rise of Daniel Rocket, Romance Language all at PH).  The event will take place at Playwrights Horizons' home at 416 West 42nd Street, and will benefit the company's annual programs and productions.  Additional performers to be announced. 

This year's theme for STORIES ON 5 STORIES is The Devil You Know.  Promotional materials state: "How many devils do you know?  Seven of Playwrights Horizons' favorite writers will tackle the devils they know and flirt with the devils they don't at our one-night-only, one-of-a-kind fundraiser, STORIES ON 5 STORIES.  New York's finest actors perform short plays in unique locations throughout our five-story building; be one of 200 guests to watch a drama unfold in the costume shop or share a comedic moment in a stairwell.  A guaranteed devilishly delightful evening."