The American National Theatre Presents Free Readings Featuring Laila Robbins, Brian Murray, et al., 4/30

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The American National Theatre (Sean Cullen, Founder; Mark Rubinsky, President) will present, in association with InViolet Repertory Theater and Urban Stages, a staged reading of Erin Mallon's Branched, and Robert Emmet Lunney's For Nina, in association with The Directors Company and Two River Theater Company tonight, April 30 at Theater Row's Clurman Theater (410 West 42nd Street). This day of readings follows The ANT's first presentation Nobody Suspects a Butterfly, by Christine Henry. Branched will be performed at 4:00PM, and For Nina at 7:00PM. Admission is FREE to the public.

Branched, written by Erin Mallon and directed by Tim D. O'Donnell, follows a week in the life of a five-year-old boy whose domestic life is far from normal. After five whole years of being breast fed, Ben suddenly has to step aside for his new baby sister, Beatrice, who may or may not be human. His mother says they have to "support her appearance no matter how humiliating it is," but that's hard to do considering Ben's baby sister has branches for arms and legs. Ben also finds out that his father is having "the sex" with his new kindergarten teacher, and he's not sure how to tell his mother. As a five-year-old entrepreneur, Ben prides himself on always staying cool under pressure, but this time…he may just burst. Branched was previously presented as a public reading At InViolet Repertory Theater and Urban Stages.

The cast of Branched includes: Jennifer Bowen (Burning Down to Heaven, Sad Sack Sally, Happiest Place On Earth), Mark McCarthy (The Seafarer, The Rivals, Macbeth, As You Like It, Moonlight and Magnolias, The Lion in Winter), Stacey Raymond (Film: Alice In Wonderland, Dive), Dana Brooke (Venecia, Love of a Pig, Nibroc Trilogy, Cricket on the Heart- BackStage West Garland Award).

For Nina, written and directed by Robert Emmet Lunney, tells the tale of movie star Nina Dalton, who returns to the stage in a new play written by her celebrated novelist husband, Brian Bartow. Brian is waging a dual battle against early-stage Alzheimer's disease and the temptation to rewrite Nina's part for a young starlet in the play's film version. Enter Gar Jackson, Nina's first love, who re-appears after thirty years, with a play of staggering beauty and epic proportions, written especially for Nina. For Nina was previously presented as a public reading at The Directors Company and Two River Theater Company.

The cast includes: Sean Cullen (B'way: South Pacific, Coram Boy, James Joyce's The Dead ), Xanthe Elbrick (B'way: Coram Boy -Tony nom), Louisa Krause (Film: Martha Marcy May Marlene, King Kelly), Brent Langdon (The Europeans, Couldn't Say), Brian Murray (B'way: The Importance of Being Earnest, Mary Stuart, The Rival, The Crucible - Tony & Drama Desk nom.), Laila Robins (Edward Albee's The Lady From Dubuque. B'way: Heartbreak House, Frozen).