EXCLUSIVE: Dramatic reading of Mueller’s ‘Investigation’ comes to Scranton Fringe Festival on Sept. 29
Condensing the actual text of volume two of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report on the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election into an hour-long dramatic reading, Robert Schenkkan’s “The Investigation” will play locally in a Scranton Fringe Festival special event on Sunday, Sept. 29.
Announced today exclusively on NEPA Scene, a cast of approximately 12 local actors and activists will appear in two showings at The Space at Olive (541 Wyoming Ave., Scranton) at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., covering 10 possible obstructions of justice in just 60 minutes.
“We’re very excited to include this project in our 2019 festival roster,” Scranton Fringe Festival Managing Director Elizabeth Bohan said. “People are engaging with politics more than ever, and this reading is a good way to engage our audiences with the topics they’re already talking about from the daily news.”
A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Law Works, the nonpartisan organization which made Schenkkan’s script available for widespread citizen production following a celebrity premiere production on June 24, 2019 at the historic Riverside Church in New York City. The live cast included Annette Bening, Kevin Kline, John Lithgow, Frederick Weller, Ben Mckenzie, Michael Shannon, Noah Emmerich, Justin Long, Jason Alexander, Gina Gershon, Wilson Cruz, Joel Grey, Alyssa Milano, Kyra Sedgwick, Alfre Woodard, Piper Perabo, Zachary Quinto, and Aidan Quinn, with additional participation by Sigourney Weaver, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Mark Hamill, and more.
Schenkkan is a Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning screenwriter and playwright.
The Scranton Fringe presentation of “The Investigation: A Search for the Truth in 10 Acts” is co-produced by Common Play Factory of Scranton under the direction of Alicia Grega. Cast members include Stephanie Bressler, Steve Corbett, Roya Fahmy, Sam Falbo, Ellen O’Brien Sherry, Jennifer McClinton-Temple, Jennifer Rhoads, Laura Seguin, Mark Zdancewicz, and Beth Ann Zero.
“Shouldn’t it sound an alarm that a routine investigation into foreign interference into U.S. elections has become a contentious matter?” Grega asked. “The contents of Robert Mueller’s report into Russian interference in the 2016 election should be understood by every voting citizen, even those inclined to disagree with its content. Schenkkan’s condensation of the text makes it easy for busy people to quickly process the implications of Mueller’s words.”
Tickets are $10 and can be purchased via scrantonfringe.org. A 2019 Scranton Fringe button is required for admission into nearly all festival performances, including this event, along with a ticket. Buttons can be purchased at the door of the venue.
The fifth annual Scranton Fringe Festival will take place Friday, Sept. 27 through Sunday, Oct. 6 in venues across downtown Scranton. It is a performing arts celebration that showcases original theatre, international dramas, music, stand-up comedy, children’s programming, dance performances, and much more.
The festival is dedicated to creating a bold and engaging platform for creative and thought-provoking art with minimal risk to artist and audience. Regional as well as touring artists are welcomed to present work with no censorship placed on content or artistic expression while striving to promote Scranton as a viable and creative environment. The Scranton Fringe is kept accessible and affordable for artists (no application fees, comparably small production fees) and audiences (special free programming, affordable tickets, hopper passes, etc.) alike.
A project of Meals on Wheels of NEPA, The Space at Olive utilizes its vacant space as a meeting, banquet, and support facility for nonprofits throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. This unique event facility provides sustaining revenue to Meals on Wheels of NEPA that help fund its meal delivery programs across the area.
Photo by Tom Williams/Getty Images
