Stars align for playwrights
by Chris Wilson

The wooden seats at Matilija Auditorium were warmed by laughter Saturday when the Ojai Playwrights Conference hosted its annual winter fund-raising event, reading of David Lindsay-Abaire's play "Fuddy Meers"
Between ticket sales, a gala dinner and an auction, an all-star cast of Hollywood actors helped the conference raise about $28,000, said managing director Adrian Sweet.
The play featured Theater 150's Dwier Brown, "Frasier" cast mates Peri Gilpin, who plays Roz, and David Hyde Pierce, who plays Niles, Richard Thomas, who played John Boy on "The Waltons," Megan Mullally from "Will & Grace," Nick Offerman, Angela Patton, and Adam Scott. This was Pierce's third fund-raising reading for the the conference.
During a break from the morning rehearsal, Gilpin said it was only her third time visiting Ojai.
"It's just nice to get out of L.A. for the weekend," she said. "I'm having so much fun."
Director Robert Egan, who recently signed on as artistic director for the conference, brought perspective to the necessity of laughter and art at this time in the world's history.
"I think it's very important that we don't forget the voice of the artist," he said.
Sweet said ticket sales for the gala dinner, held at the home of Jaye Hersh and Dave Farber, and auction items such as tickets to a taping of "Frasier," and a tour of the Playboy Mansion grounds raised the majority of the money for the conference.
The money will be used to bring the actors, directors and producers to Happy Valley School in July for the fifth annual conference. For the past winter fund-raising events, actors Larry Hagman, Peter Strauss, John Diehl, Teri Garr, John Mahoney, Peter Birkenhead, CCH Pounder, and Ellen DeGeneres have participated.

© 2002 The Ojai Valley News

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