George Bartenieff, William Best, et al. Set for ReGroup’s Johnny Johnson Concerts

ReGroup Theatre has announced casting for its concert reading of Paul Green and Kurt Weill’s Johnny Johnson, to be offered on December 12 The 47th Street Theater. Along with casting news, it has been announced that a second performance has been added. In addition to the previously reported 7pm concert, which is sold out, there will be a performance at 2pm.

Estelle Parsons will direct the event, which will have musical direction by Ken Marks and being presented as part of the company’s ongoing series that explores pieces originally produced by The Group Theatre.

The piece centers on a big-hearted innocent named Johnny Johnson, the most common name of the killed American soldier in World War I, who during a celebration of peace, finds out that a new war has broken out. Against his instincts, Johnny enlists, befriends the other side, but his valiant efforts to end the war peacefully are defeated by bureaucracy

The company will George Bartenieff, William Best, Rachel Casparian, Emily Ciotti, David Dempsey, Linda Glick, Daniel Hainsworth, Con Horgan, Pete McElligott, Kelsey Moore, Allie Mulholland, James Patrick Nelson, Maurya Scanlon, Shelley Valfer, Steven Vause, Kate Warren, Zach Wegner, and Timothy Weinert.

Admission is free, but reservations are required by calling (212) 340-1054 or emailing RSVP@ReGroupTheatre.org.