Emmy winner Rosie O'Donnell will emcee a one-night-only benefit reading of the new pulp comedy Hollywood Nurses, which will be presented June 19 at the Mainstage Theatre to benefit The Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative of the Actors Fund.
Written by Sheila Head (Character Witness, Head Games) and Peter Michael Marino (Desperately Seeking the Exit, Late with Lance!), the event will be directed by Carl Andress (Die, Mommie, Die!, The Tribute Artist). Additional casting will be announced at a later date; Geoff Josselson, CSA, serves as casting director.
“Nurse Jenny Tyler is running from her past. Nurse Suzanne Medford is running from her present,” according to press notes. “When their secret worlds collide at Holly View Hospital they ignite forbidden passions, erupting into a dangerous scandal that even the most modern medicine cannot cure. Hollywood Nurses is a comic homage to the lesbian pulp novels of the 1950s, told with a modern sensibility. Long before these topics were mainstream, the books spoke to a generation unsure of its sexuality by exploring the consequences of ’choice,’ while reassuring readers that they were not alone.”
“I am thrilled to present this reading of an extraordinary play about forbidden love and acceptance during Gay Pride Month,” said producer Norma Lana in a statement. “And with our mission to benefit this vital organization, which supports female artists, we couldn’t ask for a better emcee than the inimitable Rosie O'Donnell!”
The evening will kick off with a cocktail reception at 6:30 PM, followed by the 7:30 PM reading.
The Actors Fund established the Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative in 1996 to provide a safety net for women in the entertainment industry who are coping with critical health concerns. The Women’s Health Initiative dedicates a range of resources solely to addressing the health needs and concerns specific to women.
The Mainstage Theatre is located at 416 W. 42nd Street. Tickets, priced $35-$89, are available by clicking here or by calling (212) 279-4200. The pre-show reception is complimentary with purchase of a ticket. A special post-show reception with the cast is included for Premium Ticket holders. For more information, visit HollywoodNurses.com.
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