The free presentation at 6 PM in the Bruno Walter Auditorium is produced by the new collective Noël and Company, which has offered readings of The Women of His World (a commissioned piece), The Vortex, Design For Living and The Mousetrap.

The troupe bills the play this way: "Star Quality is a hilarious back stage comedy about an undeniably temperamental actress (forgiven only in light of her supreme 'star quality'), the naive young playwright, a rather novice director, his jaded assistant and the ensuing hijinks. An ideal homage to the theatre for anyone who works in, loves and/or hates it…"

Keith Merrill, artistic director of Noël and Company, directs. N&C's producing director is Mary Ellen Ashley and managing director is Christopher John Stegmayer.

Additional casting will be announced.

Neuwirth won Tony Awards for her work in the revivals of Chicago and Sweet Charity. Her Broadway credits include The Addams Family, Fosse, Damn Yankees, Little Me, Dancin' and A Chorus Line. She won two Emmy Awards for her work on "Cheers," and was nominated for playing the same character (Lilith) on "Frasier." Murray is a Tony nominee for his work in The Crucible (200), The Little Foxes (1997) and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (1968). 

Star Quality, the play, is presented in conjunction with the exhibition "Star Quality: The World of Noel Coward." The exhibition and associated programs are part of the Noel Coward in New York 2012 Festival, which celebrates the life and work of Noel Coward. For more information, visit noelcowardinnewyork.com.

Seating for the reading is on a first come, first served basis. Bruno Walter Auditorium is at the Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center, 111 Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan. For more information, visit noelandcompany.org or nypl.org/lpaprograms.