"Live Lit!" debuts at Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts | Press Releases

Three of the America's finest short fiction authors will be featured in "Live Lit! - 20th-Century American Writers," on Sunday, Oct. 5, at 3 p.m. at Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. The first in a series of three Sunday performances, the afternoon includes fine literature read by seasoned, professional actors preceded by afternoon tea at 2 p.m.

The afternoon begins with Philip Roth's "The Conversion of the Jews," in which a teenage boy challenges his Rabbi on the nature of God, bringing a shift in perspective to his community. It will be read by Drew Denbaum of Westport, a veteran writer, director and actor. Denbaum, who was nominated for a Best Actor Clio Award, has appeared in more than 30 television commercials and has had two plays, "Secrets" and "The Ways of Loving," produced in New York. He wrote and directed the film "Nickel Mountain," which is based on the John Gardner novel.

Barbara Rhoades of Weston will read "Glory in the Daytime" by Dorothy Parker. The story revolves around a woman who leaves the safety of her comfy life for an alluring new universe and draws some startling conclusions. Rhoades appeared on Broadway with Barbra Steisand in "Funny Girl" and starred in the films "Don't Just Stand There" with Mary Tyler Moore, "Shakiest Gun in the West" with Don Knotts, and "The Goodbye Girl" with Richard Dreyfus. She continues her work with many television guest appearances.

The third story, Flannery O'Connor's "A View of the Woods," focuses on a little girl, her grandfather, a plot of land and the ties that bind us together. James Noble of Norwalk will read the tale. Best known to television viewers as bumbling Gov. Gene Gatling in the 1980s hit sitcom "Benson," Noble lists among his credits the Broadway production of "1776," and film roles in "Being There" and "10."

The second "Live Lit!" afternoon takes place on Sunday, Nov. 9, and will feature three takes on fin-de-siecle marriage by Ivan Klima, Julian Barnes and Andrea Lee. On Sunday, Dec. 7, actors will read from icons of Russian literature, including Alexander Pushkin and Anton Chekhov. The event is part of the Quick Center's Russian Arts and Letters Festival.

The Quick Center enlisted Tess Link, an actress, writer and member of the Westport-based Theatre Artists Workshop, as director for its exciting new series.

All Live Lit! performances will take place in the Quick Center's Wien Experimental Theatre, a more intimate setting than the larger Kelley Auditorium. Single tickets are $10. A package of tickets for all three events is $24. For tickets, call the Quick Center box office at (203) 254-4010 or toll free at 1-877-ARTS-396. For more information, visit the website www.quickcenter.com.