Slater, Heche, Sparks, Tilly, et al. to Participate in Casablanca Reading for The Actors’ Fund

Christian Slater and Anne Heche will star in The Actors’ Fund of America’s all-star reading of the screenplay of the 1942 film Casablanca, to be held at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles on October 2 at 4pm. Peter Hunt will direct the reading, which will be preceded by a VIP reception hosted by Angela Lansbury.

The cast also includes René Auberjonois (Berger), Dan Castalanetta (Signor Ugarte), James Cromwell (Major Strasser), Bruce Davison (Emil), André De Shields (Sam), Edward Herrmann (Louis), Kurtwood Smith (Col. Heinze), Hal Sparks (Jan Brandel), and Jennifer Tilly (Yvonne). Generally considered to be one of the best films ever made, Casablanca tells the story of star-crossed lovers Rick (Humphrey Bogart) and Ilse (Ingrid Bergman), set against the background of World War II. The screenplay, by Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein, and Howard Koch, has been adapted for the stage by David Rambo.

Slater, who will play Rick, was most recently seen on Broadway as Tom in The Glass Menagerie and will next appear on stage in London as Chance Wayne in Sweet Bird of Youth. Heche, who will play Ilse, has starred on Broadway in Proof and in Twentieth Century, for which she received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress.

Tickets to the benefit range from $28 to $2,500. For more information, call 323-933-9244 or visit www.actorsfund.org.