Christina Applegate, Kenneth Branagh, Eric Idle, Martin Short, Tracey Ullman, et al. Set for Merry Wives of Windsor Benefit Reading

Christina Applegate, Kenneth Branagh, Faith Hill, Eric Idle, Arte Johnson, Eugene Levy, Tim McGraw, William Shatner, Martin Short, and Tracey Ullman will take part in a reading of Shakesepeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor, to be offered on Monday, May 9 at 8pm at UCLA’s Royce Hall. Ben Donenberg will direct the performance, which is part of the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles’ Simply Shakespeare series and will raise money for the company’s work.

The piece centers on the character of Falstaff, first seen in the Bard’s Henry IV plays, and his lecherous designs on two married women.

Prior to the event, the company is auctioning off a speaking role in the show, which will afford the winning bidder with the chance to join the cast on stage with a line of dialogue, participate in limited rehearsal, have billing in the program, gain admission to the VIP post-show party and take a group photo with the cast. The auction, to be conducted on eBay, will begin on April 21 and conclude on May 1.

For further information and tickets, click here.