Out and About

Kevin Bacon, Annette Bening, Peter Gallagher, Joel Grey, Harriet Harris, Angela Lansbury, Debra Monk, Bernadette Peters, Keri Russell, Kyra Sedgwick, Jennifer Tilly, and more stars make the scene

By Joseph Marzullo,Brian Scott Lipton • Nov 11, 2008 • New York

On Monday night, the Actors' Fund hosted a special benefit reading for the screenplay of All About Eve at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, with film and stage star Annette Bening taking on the role of Margo Channing.

The event also starred Tony Award winner Angela Lansbury as Birdie, film star Keri Russell as Eve Harrington, and Tony winner Zoe Caldwell as Chief Prompter.

Peter Gallagher -- who appeared with Bening in the Oscar-winning film American Beauty -- played her love interest, Bill.

The curvaceous Jennifer Tilly enlivened the proceedings with her performance as Miss Caswell (played in the film by Marilyn Monroe).

Tony winner Joel Grey took on the role of Max Fabian.

Mad Men star John Slattery lent his talents to the evening as Lloyd Richards.

Also on Monday night, New York Stage & Film honored actress Kyra Sedgwick, star of TNT's hit series The Closer, and her husband, actor Kevin Bacon, who will co-star in the upcoming film version of Frost/Nixon.

The great Frances Sternhagen, who plays Sedgwick's mother on The Closer, was among the evening's special guests.

Jennifer Westfeldt, star of the Broadway revival of Wonderful Town and a NYSF alumnae, was another gala atendee.

Here are Carolyn McCormick, currently starring on Broadway as Dora Strang in Equus and her talented husband, Broadway stalwart Byron Jennings.

The Acting Company held its Commedia Dell'Arte Gala on Monday night at Cipriani Wall Street. Dakin Matthews, currently starring in the Roundabout Theater's revival of A Man For All Seasons, was one of the event's emcees.

The divine Harriet Harris, last seen on Broadway in Cry-Baby, shared the emcee duties.

Tony winner Debra Monk was among the evening's many entertainers.

Dana Ivey -- who will return to the stage next year in Playwrights' Horizons' production of The Savannah Disputation -- got into the festive spirit.

Finally, Bernadette Peters made a special appearance at FAO Schwarz on Saturday afternoon to promote the new Kramer dog, based on her book Broadway Barks and named after her beloved real-life pet.