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Photo Coverage: Project Shaw Presents BACK TO METHUSELAH: Part One

Gingold Theatrical Group's Project Shaw -- now in the fourth year of its four-year series --continued tackling every play George Bernard Shaw ever wrote with its 41st presentation: Shaw's most epic play BACK TO METHUSELAH (PART ONE) which was performed Monday, September 21 at 7:00pm at The Players Club (16 Gramercy Park South) in Manhattan. David Staller directed.

Starting with Adam, Eve and The Serpent in the Garden of Eden, the rollicking BACK TO METHUSELAH speeds through several thousands of years of human history -- past, present (1920) and future. By the time the curtain falls on part one, it is 2170 and people have begun to live to be 300 years old! This was the first time the play has been presented in New York in more than fifty years, and the first time in its entirety since 1922.

BACK TO METHUSELAH (PART TWO) will be performed on Monday, October 19.

Among those actors who have previously appeared are Marian Seldes, Brian Murray,Cheyenne Jackson, Megan Mullally, Karen Ziemba, Jayne Houdyshell, Blair Brown, John Cullum, Veanne Cox, Marc Kudisch, Rebecca Luker, Cheyenne Jackson, Charlotte Rae, Fritz Weaver, Kate Mulgrew, Charles Busch, Gary Beach and Daphne Rubin-Vega.

As Shaw began his theatrical life as a critic, (and since we don't invite reviews), members of the press have also been involved in each reading. Those who have introduced or acted include Jeremy McCarter, Howard Kissel, Charles Isherwood, Michael Riedel, John Simon, Frank Scheck, David Cote, Adam Feldman, Rex Reed, Roma Torre, David Finkle, Eric Grode, and Robert Simonson.

In addition to Project Shaw, GTG is also producing a successful new play development program. Named for one of Shaw' inflammatory one-acts, PRESS CUTTINGS: the new plays. As Shaw was a theater critic before becoming a playwright, all writers are currently on-staff critics or journalists devoted to covering the theater scene. The three writers chosen for the first year's cycle are David Cote, Jeremy McCarter and Robert Simonson. These plays will be developed in a year-long workshop process. Once their own theatre space is secured, GTG will be presenting a full season including two fully mounted Shaw plays and at least one new play. These plays are to focus on the Shavian precepts involving individual human rights, political and social responsibility and the comic absurdity of daily life.

David Staller is founder and artistic director of Gingold Theatrical Group.

The Players Club is New York's most legendary private club. The former residence of Edwin Booth, it became a club for those interested in the arts in 1888.

Upcoming Project Shaw presentations (all readings begin at 7pm at The Players Club) include:
Monday, October 19: BACK TO METHUSELAH (PART TWO)
Monday, November 16: ON THE ROCKS
Monday, December 14: WHY SHE SHOULD NOT (Shaw's unfinished final play)

For more information, visit www.projectshaw.com.

Photos by Genevieve Rafter Keddy

Stephen Mo Hanan and Simon Jones