New York City-based LAByrinth Theater Company presented a virtual reading of “Our Lady of 121st Street” on Saturday, May 23, via livestream on YouTube and available for a limited time on the organization’s website. The virtual reading featured Director of Acting and Associate Professor of Theatre Scott Hudson, M.F.A., along with other members of the original off-Broadway cast, including Elizabeth Canavan, Liza Colón-Zayas, Russell G. Jones, Portia, Al Roffe, Felix Solis and David Zayas. It was directed by Elizabeth Rodriguez with David Deblinger reading stage directions.
The company also used the evening to present the work’s Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, Stephen Adly Guirgis, with the Dave Hogue Award for his outstanding contributions to the company. Previous honorees include Madonna and George C. Wolfe.
The event was free to the public and donations were accepted throughout the evening to help the company maintain operations and continue its growth amidst the coronavirus pandemic. The reading was available to view for 24 hours and garnered 17,000 views.
The play was originally produced in 2003 and directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman. It ran for six months off-Broadway at The Union Square Theatre and is of historical significance.
An encore viewing of the virtual reading is scheduled to be announced.
Chris Goodwin ’19 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre) currently serves as managing director for the LAByrinth Theater Company. He helped produce and manage the Zoom production of “Our Lady of 121st Street.”
Visit www.labtheater.org to learn more about the event and www.playbill.com to read an article about the virtual reading.
The New York Times listed the production as one of its “Theater Performances to Stream This Week” listing. Visit www.nytimes.com to learn more.
