Benchley, Behrman, & Bishop: Wit, Wisdom and Whimsy from the Great Writers of Worcester

Worcester Historical Museum is pleased to announce a partnership with American Classic Theater for a three-part summer series; Benchley, Behrman, & Bishop: Wit, Wisdom and Whimsy from the Great Writers of Worcester.  Performances will be held on the fourth Thursday in June, July and August.  Each evening will have a unique focus, with material coming from the drawing-room comedies of S.N. Behrman, the humor of Algonquin Roundtable member Robert Benchley, the exquisite poetry of Elizabeth Bishop and their contemporaries.  These three remarkably talented people called Worcester home before moving on to the literary circles of New York City.  American Classic Theater's Artistic Director, James B. Nicola, will direct.  Each performance will feature an honor bar and hors d'oeuvres.

The June reading will incorporate scenes from Biography.  Written by S.N. Behrman and first performed in 1932, Biography is a brilliant take on media overexposure when a single woman, semi-famous for painting celebrities' portraits, is asked to write her memoirs.  The play went on to become a feature film in 1934 staring Ann Harding and Robert Montgomery.  Other notable works that will be featured are How to Watch A Chess Match by Robert Benchley and The Fish by Elizabeth Bishop. The evening will also feature pieces by Dorothy Parker, Charles Olson, Frank O'Hara, and Worcester's poet laureate, Stanley Kunitz, along with a special guest.