Judith Ivey to Star in Free D.C. Reading of State of the Union

Tony Award winner Judith Ivey will headline a special free reading of the 1946 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama State of the Union, by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, at Ford’s Theatre at 7pm on Monday, October 24. Ted van Griethuysen, Rick Foucheux, and Nancy Robinette will also be in the cast.

This tale of political ambition focuses on Grant Matthews, an industrialist (loosely based on Wendell Wilkie) who runs for President of the United States. The play ran for over 750 performances on Broadway between 1945 and 1947, with Ralph Bellamy and Ruth Hussey as its original leads. It was filmed in 1948 by Frank Capra, starring Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Angela Lansbury and Van Johnson.

Ivey won two Tony Awards for Best Featured Actress in a Play for Steaming and Hurlyburly. She recently directed a production of Bad Dates at the Laguna Playhouse. In January, she will appear with Bill Pullman in the Kennedy Center production of The Subject Was Roses.

Reservations for the reading are suggested. Call 202-347-6262.