Christmas at the Players

Last night was the Project Shaw reading of SAINT JOAN

 and the Players Club in Gramercy Park was decked out for the Christmas season.

 

The statue of Players founder Edwin Booth overlooks the poinsettias

and even hangs from the tree

But all year round the legends look down on us mere mortals, such as Noel Coward

Bert Lahr...

Carol Burnett...

and Jimmy Cagney

Wartime dreams

 The producer and director of Project Shaw, the brilliant, handsome and inspiring David Staller, was a great friend of Hermione Gingold so his company is called the Gingold Group

Hermione greets us at the door

David (on top step) tries to organise the cast for a group photo

and ends up photographing me while stage manager Nate Klaus ignores us.

Our star and Tony winner for BOOK OF MORMON Nikki M. James chats with cast member James Beaman who played Ladvenu.

One of the greats of American theatre and film, Mr. Fritz Weaver. My scenes were with him so I was in heaven.

Best Actor Tony winner for THE INVENTION OF LOVE Richard Easton (R) who was magnificent as the Earl of Warwick poses with Conan McCarty (De Courcelles).

Richard with Michael Selkirk (de Baudricourt)

Another Broadway stalwart, Roberta Maxwell, who played our Narrator

And two of the most talented men in town, Robert Stanton (the Archbishop) and the extraordinary Josh Grisetti (the Dauphin).

Me and Josh

Celebs in the audience! Composer Stephen Schwartz and Robert Osborne, host of Turner Classic Movies.