Member Profile: Gingold Theatrical Group’s Project Shaw

Project Shaw is an ambitious undertaking that will present every play written by George Bernard Shaw as concert readings at New York’s legendary Player’s Club.

The driving force behind the project is Fractured Atlas member David Staller, the Artistic Director of Gingold Theatrical Group and a lifetime Shaw aficionado. “Shaw’s voice has been an anchor of reason for me during most of my life,” says David. “It serves as a reminder that it’s our responsibility to question and challenge ourselves, daily, as to what’s right and wrong; to define ourselves independently of societal expectations; to take responsibilities for the choices we make.”

David also believes that Shaw’s work is particularly relevant to a contemporary audience. “Each of his plays deal with the issues we’re still wrangling with today,” he says. “The most current topics on any news program are debated in his works.”

“The entertaining brilliance of these plays is that Shaw offers a 360º look at each argument,” continues David. “No point of view is clearly represented as the author’s. He wrote comedies to present ideas which would activate self-questioning.”

Since beginning the project in 2006, David has recruited some of the top talents from both film and theatre to participate in his readings including Malcolm Gets, Veanne Cox, Raul Esparza, Marc Kudisch, George S. Irving, Olympia Dukakis, Nancy Anderson, Ed Dixon, Cynthia Harris, Charlotte Moore and Simon Jones.

“Luckily,” says David. “Actors are eager to take a bite out of really good writing.”

For more information about Project Shaw, visit www.projectshaw.com.