Gingold Theatrical Group announces Casting for George Bernard Shaw's Village Wooing
About
Gingold Theatrical Group (GTG) (David Staller, Artistic Director; Isaiah Josiah, Managing Producer) is thrilled to announce the cast for Village Wooing, George Bernard Shaw's classic two-hander, beginning performances October 22, 2026 at The House of the Redeemer. Tony Award winners Beth Leavel and Karen Ziemba, and Tony Award nominees Robert Cuccioli and Tom Hewitt will perform in a rotating engagement across four intimate performances.
For this special engagement, GTG presents a new gender-neutral adaptation of Shaw's text. The adaptation opens the roles designated simply as A and Z in Shaw's original to performers of any gender, bringing the play into vivid dialogue with the present moment while honoring the full wit and intelligence of Shaw's language.
Performance Schedule:
Thursday, October 22 at 7:00 PM — Beth Leavel and Robert Cuccioli
Friday, October 23 at 7:00 PM — Karen Ziemba and Tom Hewitt
Saturday, October 24 at 7:00 PM — Robert Cuccioli and Tom Hewitt
Sunday, October 25 at 3:00 PM — Beth Leavel and Karen Ziemba
Written by Shaw in 1933, Village Wooing is one of his most intimate, romantic, and quietly profound works. A sparkling two-hander about two people determined to remain single who meet aboard a pleasure ship and find their lives transformed in the most unexpected ways. Filled with Shaw's characteristic wit, intelligence, and emotional surprise, the play has rarely been seen in New York in a fully realized presentation.
Village Wooing will be presented as a Salon Presentation, an intimate, artist-driven theatrical event in the tradition of the great literary salons, placing extraordinary performers at the center of a small, personal room with an intimate audience. It’s a party, so there will be a full complement of drinks and snacks available throughout the performance! Proceeds from Village Wooing directly support GTG's ongoing programming, including its celebrated Project Shaw reading series, the Speakers' Corner new works program, and Off-Broadway productions.
“Village Wooing is Shaw at his most playful, intimate, and unexpectedly romantic,” said Artistic Director Staller in an earlier statement. “It is a delicious battle between two people who are certain they know exactly what they want—until they meet someone who makes them see the world in a completely different way. By opening the roles to actors of any gender, we can focus even more clearly on what makes the play so enduring: the exhilarating danger of allowing another person to change your life. And I can imagine no more inviting setting for this encounter than the beautifully atmospheric library of The House of the Redeemer.”
Tickets are on sale now: TICKETS
For more information, please visit www.GingoldGroup.org
BIOS
ROBERT CUCCIOLI is a Tony Award-nominated actor best known for his acclaimed dual performance in Jekyll & Hyde on Broadway. Additional Broadway credits include Les Misérables and Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. Off-Broadway credits include Caesar & Cleopatra, Mrs. Warren's Profession, A Touch of the Poet (Irish Rep), and And the World Goes 'Round. He is a longtime collaborator of Gingold Theatrical Group, most recently appearing in GTG's presentation of John Bull's Other Island
BETH LEAVEL is a Tony Award winner whose Broadway credits include The Drowsy Chaperone (Tony Award), The Prom, Baby It's You!, Bandstand, Elf, Mamma Mia!, Young Frankenstein, and 42nd Street. She has dazzled sold-out audiences across the country with her acclaimed cabaret act and teaches master classes for students worldwide, and recently triumphed in Hello Dolly!.
TOM HEWITT is a Tony Award-nominated actor whose Broadway credits include The Rocky Horror Show (Tony and Drama Desk nominations), Hadestown, Jesus Christ Superstar, Dracula the Musical, Chicago, The Lion King, Doctor Zhivago, and Amazing Grace. His extensive regional credits include productions at the Guthrie Theatre, Arena Stage, and Berkshire Theatre Festival.
KAREN ZIEMBA is a Tony Award winner whose Broadway credits include Contact (Tony Award), Steel Pier, Curtains, Never Gonna Dance, Crazy for You, Chicago, and 42nd Street. Off-Broadway, she has joined Gingold for Mrs. Warren’s Profession and Arms and the Man. She is also a Drama Desk Award winner and has appeared frequently with New York City Center Encores!
ABOUT GINGOLD THEATRICAL GROUP
Gingold Theatrical Group, now in its 21st year, creates theater that supports human rights, freedom of speech, and individual liberty using the work of George Bernard Shaw as our guide. Through full productions, staged readings, new play development, and educational programs, GTG brings Shaw’s humanist ideals to inspire peaceful discussion and activism. GTG’s past productions include Man and Superman (2012), You Never Can Tell (2013), Major Barbara (2014), Widowers’ Houses (2016), Heartbreak House (2018), Caesar & Cleopatra(2019), Candida (2022), Arms and the Man (2023), The Devil’s Disciple (2024), and Pygmalion (2025)
Founded in 2006 by David Staller, GTG has carved a permanent niche for the work of George Bernard Shaw within the social and cultural life of New York City, and, through the Project Shaw reading series, made history in 2009 as the first company ever to present performances of every one of Shaw's 65 plays (including full-length works, one-acts and sketches). GTG brings together performers, critics, students, academics and the general public with the opportunity to explore and perform theatrical work inspired by the humanitarian and activist values that Shaw championed. All comedies, these plays boldly exhibit the insight, wit, passion and all-encompassing socio-political focus that distinguished Shaw as one of the most inventive and incisive writers of all time.
Major support for GTG is provided by The Buchwald Family Foundation, City of New York Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, The Helen M. DeMario Foundation, Golden Globe Foundation, Herman Goldman Foundation, Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme, Marta Heflin Foundation, Michael Tuch Foundation, New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor & New York State Legislature, Shubert Foundation, Pamela Singleton, and The National Endowment for the Arts.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT:
