| Acting for a Cause Live Readings | |
|---|---|
| Show type | Staged reading |
| Creative team | |
| Creator | Brando Crawford |
| Director | Brando Crawford |
| Host | Brando Crawford |
| Official website | |
Acting for a Cause is a live read series of classic plays and screenplays created, produced, directed and hosted by Brando Crawford. The script is typically announced days before the event alongside a playbill featuring the cast and an animation on Instagram. The actors have one rehearsal ahead of time. Each reading is organized to raise money for charity.[1] The readings garnered over 500,000 viewers between the first play read on March 27, 2020 and the last announced read on July 31, 2020.
The series has featured young Hollywood actors such as Florence Pugh, Margaret Qualley, Ruby Rose, Madelaine Petsch, Zazie Beetz, David Corenswet, Jacob Elordi, Natalia Dyer, Corbin Bleu, Julia Fox, Tommy Dorfman, Madeline Brewer, Sophia Lillis, Wyatt Oleff, Cameron Monaghan.[2] Recurring participants include Auliʻi Cravalho, Brandon Flynn, Justice Smith, Alex Wolff, Ronen Rubinstein, Jessica Frances Dukes, Mason Alexander Park, Sydney Lemmon, and Xxavier Lavell. While Brando Crawford serves as director and producer for every reading. Alex Wolff co-produced the reading of "This is our Youth", and Xxavier Lavell co-directed the reading of "Hit the Wall".
The reading series was a direct response to the pandemic and launched Brando Crawford's career as a director and producer.
Brando Crawford directs and reads the stage directions unless otherwise noted. Many of the actors play multiple supporting roles. Specific roles are stated only when information is known.[2]
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
Directed and produced by Brando Crawford
Note: This cast originally included Diana Silvers but she was unavailable at the last minute.
This Is Our Youth by Kenneth Lonergan
Directed and produced by Brando Crawford, co-produced by Alex Wolff
Directed and produced by Brando Crawford
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Directed and produced by Brando Crawford
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Directed and produced by Brando Crawford
Directed and produced by Brando Crawford
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
Directed and produced by Brando Crawford
Hit the Wall by Ike Holter[3]
Directed and produced by Brando Crawford
Up in the Air by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner[4]
Directed and produced by Brando Crawford
Ferris Bueller's Day Off by John Hughes
Directed and produced by Brando Crawford
Note: This cast originally included Kelvin Harrison Jr. but he was unavailable at the last minute.
A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare
Directed and produced by Brando Crawford
On June 5, 2020, Brando Crawford, Xxavier Lavell, and Daniel Wilson uploaded the Black Lives Matter Manifesto on Acting for a Cause's YouTube channel unannounced, in place of a reading.
In 2023, Crawford directed a greenscreen-based remake of Tommy Wiseau's 2003 cult favorite The Room, starring Bob Odenkirk, Bella Heathcote, Cameron Kasky, Mike Flanagan, Kate Siegel, Arturo Castro, and original star Greg Sestero.[5]
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