Midtown Direct Rep (MDR) launches its 2017-18 staged reading series, Theater at The Woodland, with a free presentation of SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR, a new play with music, written by Rob Zellers, directed by Billy Porter.

This event will be performed for one night only on Monday, October 2nd at 7:30 pm at ­­­­­­The Woodland where MDR is the resident theater company. The reading is free but reservations are required.

Billy Porter (Kinky Boots) stars as Billy Strayhorn; with Renée Elise Goldsberry (Hamilton) as vocalists, including Lena Horn, Sarah Vaughan and Mahalia Jackson; Norm Lewis (Porgy & Bess) as Duke Ellington; Matthew J. Harris as pianist Aaron Bridgers; Nathan Darrow (House of Cards) as Jazz Drummer Mickey Scrima; and Brian Dykstra reading stage directions. Music Supervision is by Zane Mark with Darryl Ivey as Musical Direction. Terrence Witter is Stage Manager.

This staged reading will be followed by a discussion with members of the creative team.

The reading will run approximately 2 hours long with a 20 min intermission.