JEFFREY

This afternoon I attended a reading of the play "Jeffrey" directed by my friend Bryant Lanier.

I usually have to be dragged to theater kicking and screaming, but I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed every moment. I cried, I laughed, I'm so glad I went. I'm always amazed at the wonderful talent here in New York City, and the cast was so clever, funny, imaginative and honest in their several portrayals.

This particular "Jeffrey", a play by Paul Rudnick, was produced and directed by Bryant Lanier. Bryant founded "The Play's The Thing" in 1999 as a venue for experienced theater artists to read plays for personal and professional enjoyment. Bryant goes on to say "Over the years we have produced AEA Staged Readings of classic Broadway / Off-Broadway comedies and dramas. We are also a resource for playwrights with new work in development."

Bryant writes about the Play "Jeffrey" in his Directors notes: "I fell in love with this play after seeing the original production at the Minetta Lane Theater some seventeen years ago. Although a romantic comedy during the first decade of the AIDS epidemic is ostensibly unimaginable, Paul Rudnick's characters persevere in the face of insurmountable circumstances with fervor, grace and wit. Though specific to the era in which it was written, the play is strong enough to now be considered a period piece as opposed to dated. This makes it ideal for TTPT, because our mission is to share under exposed classics to generations who recall the original, as well as those who may never have heard of plays like Jeffrey." The performance this afternoon was also a benefit for the Episcopal Actors Guild, so that was an added bonus.

You can contact Bryant for upcoming performances or questions about "The Play's The Thing" HERE.