Brian Murray Set for Readings of The History of Cardenio and Happy Days

Popular stage actor Brian Murray is set for two play readings in the coming weeks. On Monday, August 7, he will appear in a reading of The History of Cardenio at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, beginning at 8pm; and on Wednesday, September 13, he will co-star with Marian Seldes in Samuel Beckett’s Happy Days as part of the lunchtime “Food for Thought” series at The Players Club in New York City.

The History of Cardenio, written by William Shakespeare in collaboration with John Fletcher, is a dramatization of a story by Miguel de Cervantes. In the Williamstown reading, to be directed by Joseph Cacaci, Murray will play the role of Don Quixote. The cast also includes Roger Rees (the festival’s artistic director and a Tony Award-winning actor), Tom Bloom, Laurie Naughton, and Brian Smiar.

Happy Days is a well known two-character play by Beckett. The “Food for Thought” reading of the piece will reunite Murray and Seldes, who starred together Off-Broadway in Beckett/Albee and The Play About the Baby. Austin Pendleton will direct.

Murray is a three-time Tony Award nominee for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, The Little Foxes, and The Crucible. His many other Broadway credits include The Rivals, A Small Family Business, Uncle Vanya, Racing Demon, and Da.

Tickets to the Williamstown reading are priced at $10-$20 and can be ordered by calling 413-597-3400. To reserve for the “Food for Thought” reading, call 212-362-2560.