Gingold Theatrical Group’s Project Shaw, which is under the leadership of Artistic Director David Staller, continues its 12th season May 22 with readings of two Shaw one-act comedies, Press Cuttings and Dark Lady of the Sonnets. The performance takes place at Symphony Space’s Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre (2537 Broadway at 95th Street).

Directed by Staller, Press Cuttings features Paxton Whitehead (General Mitchener of the Army Council), Tim Jerome (Prime Minister Blasquith), Christine Pedi (Mrs. Farrell), Christian DeMarais (An Orderly), Andréa Burns (Mrs. Banger), and Cady Huffman (Lady Cynthia Fanshaw). Mirirai Sithole is Narrator.

Dark Lady of the Sonnets includes Jerome (The Warder), DeMarais (William Shakespeare), Burns (Queen Elizabeth), Sithole (Mary Fitton), and Huffman (Narrator).

Press Cuttings is Shaw's “suffragette comedy,” involving a “Prime Minister in drag (Tim Jerome), a conservative General out of control (Paxton Whitehead), a rebellious orderly (Christian DeMarais), and some very determined women (Christine Pedi, Andrea Burns, Cady Huffman).”

In Shaw’s 1910 comedy, Dark Lady of the Sonnets, “Shakespeare (Christian DeMarais) has a secret rendezvous with Queen Elizabeth (Andréa Burns), who may or may not be one of his inspirations for some of his most treasured sonnets.”

According to Staller, “We’ve got wall-to-wall dynamic women this season, thanks to Shaw and his tireless lifelong efforts on behalf of women’s rights. In Press Cuttings, men (as usual) bear the ironic brunt of his scorn for small-minded hypocrisy. In Dark Lady of the Sonnets, we get none other than Shakespeare and Elizabeth the Queen in a verbal duel of wits! This pair of rarely seen short Shaw comedies are just the thing for spring.”

Tickets are $35 and are available by calling (212) 864-5400 or online at SymphonySpace.org. Special reserved VIP seating available for $50 by contacting the Gingold office (212) 355-7823 or [email protected].