Rosie O’Donnell and Kathleen Turner are taking to the stage in support of women’s healthcare. Per Playbill, the two will lead a one-night-only reading of “Hollywood Nurses” to benefit The Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative of the Actors Fund. Turner will topline the production in the role of Head Nurse Stone, O’Donnell will narrate and emcee at the sold-out event on June 19.
Written by Sheila Head (“Character Witness”) and Peter Michael Marino (“Desperately Seeking the Exit”), “Hollywood Nurses” is “a modern take on lesbian pulp novels” of the 1950s. “Nurse Jenny Tyler (Taylor Louderman, ‘Kinky Boots’) is running from her past. Nurse Suzanne Medford (Lesli Margherita, ‘Matilda’) is running from her present,” Playbill summarizes. “When their secret worlds collide at Holly View Hospital they ignite forbidden passions, erupting into a dangerous scandal that even the most modern medicine cannot cure.” Carl Andress (“Die, Mommie, Die!”) will direct the reading.
Since 1996 The Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative has offered support for women in show business who are coping with critical health issues. According to the source, it also “dedicates a range of resources solely to addressing the health needs and concerns specific to women.”
“I am thrilled to present this reading of an extraordinary play about forbidden love and acceptance during Gay Pride Month,” “Hollywood Nurses” producer Norma Lana emphasized. “And with our mission to benefit this vital organization, which supports female artists, we couldn’t ask for a better emcee than the inimitable Rosie O’Donnell!”
The benefit reading of “Hollywood Nurses” will take place at the Mainstage Theatre in NYC. Find out more about the play at the event’s website.
