Jason Reitman's "Live Read"

Jason Reitman has been hosting a series of screenplay reading sessions at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. He casts popular actors of his choice in this "live read" and most of the acting is performed impromptu. The casting details are usually kept under wraps until a few hours before the show. I have been very fascinated by this new form of art and have followed it with interest. The series has been very successful and Reitman intends to cover more cities. Since I couldn't find a page with proper listing of all the shows and its cast, I decided to make one as I clearly have too much time on my hand.

BOOGIE NIGHTS (Toronto, September 6, 2013)


(Cast to be announced)













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BREAKING BAD (July 23, 2013)


Chi McBride in the role of Hank (Dean Norris)
Ellie Kemper in the role of Marie (Betsy Brandt)
Annie Mumolo in the role of Skyler (Anna Gunn)
Mae Whitman in the role of Jesse (Aaron Paul)
Rainn Wilson in the role of Walter (Bryan Cranston)











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THE USUAL SUSPECTS (March 21, 2013)

Chi McBride in the role of Kujan (Chazz Palminteri)
Mark Duplass in the role of Hockney (Kevin Pollack)
Nick Kroll in the role of Fenster (Benicio Del Toro)
Adam Brody in the role of McManus (Stephen Baldwin)
Jason Mantzoukas in the role of Baer (Giancarlo Esposito)
Mae Whitman in the role of Kobayashi (Pete Postlethwaite)













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GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS (February 21, 2013)

Robin Wright in the role of Ricky Roma (Al Pacino)
Mae Whitman in the role of John Williamson (Kevin Spacey)
Melanie Lynskey in the role of Aaronow (Alan Arkin)
Catherine O'Hara in the role of Shelley Levene (Jack Lemmon)
Maria Bello in the role of Dave Moss (Ed Harris)
Carla Gugino in the role of Blake (Alec Baldwin)













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HIS GIRL FRIDAY (January 17, 2013)

Anne Hathaway in the role of Hildy Johnson (Rosalind Russell)
Jason Bateman in the role of Walter Burns (Cary Grant)
Adam Scott in the role of Bruce Baldwin (Ralph Bellamy)
Mae Whitman in the role of Mollie Malloy (Helen Mack)
Nick Kroll in the role of The Mayor (Clarence Kolb)
Fred Willard in the role of Earl Williams (John Qualen)
Fred Savage as the Narrator (Special Guest Director)














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GHOSTBUSTERS (December 13, 2012)

Seth Rogen in the role of Peter Venkman (Bill Murray)
Rainn Wilson in the role of Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis)

Jack Black in the role of Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd)
Phil LaMarr in the role of Winston Zeddmore (Ernie Hudson)
Kristen Bell in the role of Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver)
Kevin Pollak in the role of Mayor of NYC (Larry King)
Kevin Pollak in the role of Walter Peck (Casey Kasem)
Mae Whitman in the role of receptionist Janine Melnitz (Annie Potts)
Paul Rust in the role of The Keymaster (Rick Moranis)
Paul Scheer takes care of the other speaking roles.








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MANHATTAN (November 15, 2012)

Stephen Merchant in the role of Issac (Woody Allen)
Olivia Munn in the role of Mary (Diane Keaton)
Shailene Woodley in the role of Tracy (Mariel Hemingway)
Fred Savage in the role of Yale (Michael Murphy)
Erika Christensen in the role of Jill (Meryl Streep)
Mae Whitman in the role of Emily (Anne Byrne)
Jason Mantzoukas in the role of Dennis (Michael O’Donoghue)













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BULL DURHAM (October 25, 2012)

David Koechner in the role of Larry (Robert Wuhl)
JK Simmons in the role of Skip (Trey Wilson)
Mae Whitman in the role of Millie (Jenny Robertson)
Jason Mantzoukas as Bobby (David Neidorf)
Johnny Simmons as Jimmy (William O'Leary)
Andy Samberg as Nuke (Tim Robbins)
Matthew Modine as Crash (Kevin Costner)












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AMERICAN BEAUTY (Toronto, September 6, 2012)

Adam Driver in the role of Ricky Fitts (Wes Bentley)
Sarah Gadon in the role of Angela (Mena Suvari)
Nick Kroll in the role of Buddy (Peter Gallagher)
Mae Whitman in the role of Jane (Thora Birch)
George Stroumboulopoulos in the role of Jim (Scott Bakula)
Paul Scheer in the role of Col Frank Fitts (Chris Cooper)













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The season one ended with the special New York edition of The Apartment. Reitman had been busy filming Labor Day with Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin, Tobey Maguire and Clark Gregg. The series is expected to continue next month. Last night, he announced on twitter about a special one-off American Beauty "Live Read" session at the Toronto International Film Festival. The cast is yet to be announced.

THE APARTMENT (New York, April 27, 2012)

Paul Rudd in the role of C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon)
Emma Stone in the role of Miss Kubelik (Shirley Temple)
James Woods in the role of Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray)
Cara Buono in the role of Secretary Miss Olsen (Edie Adams)
Tom Cavanagh in the role of Senior  Exec. Dobisch (Ray Walston)
Greta Gerwig in the role of Phone operator Sylvia (Joan Shawlee)
Jason Sudeikis in the role of Senior Exec. Kirkeby (David Lewis)
David Wain in the role of Dr. Dreyfuss (Jack Kruschen)










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THE BIG LEBOWSKI (March 29, 2012)

Seth Rogen in the role of  The Dude (Jeff Bridges)
Jason Alexander in the role of Mr. Lebowski (David Huddleston)
Fred Savage in the role of Brandt (Phillip Seymour Hoffman)
Nick Kroll in the role of Jesus Quintana (John Turturro)
Nick Kroll in the role of Jackie Treehorn (Ben Gazzara)
Catherine (Reitman's sister) in the role of Bunny Lebowski (Tara Reid)
Hank Azaria in the role of Donny (Steve Buscemi)
Christina Hendricks  in the role of  Maude Lebowski (Julianne Moore)
Rainn Wilson in the role of Walter Sobchak (John Goodman)
Sam Elliott in the role of The Stranger (Sam Elliott)









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RESERVOIR DOGS (February 16, 2012)

Cuba Gooding, Jr in the role of Mr. Orange (Tim Roth)
Anthony Mackie in the role of Mr. Pink (Steve Buscemi)
Terrence Howard in the role of Mr. Blonde (Michael Madsen)
Anthony Anderson in the role of Nice Guy Eddie (Chris Penn)
Chi McBride in the role of Joe (Laurence Tierney)
Common in the role of Mr. Brown (Quentin Tarantino)
Laurence Fishburne in the role of Mr. White (Harvey Keitel)

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SHAMPOO (January 19, 2012)

JK Simmons in the role of Lester (Jack Warden)
Diane Lane in the role of Felicia (Lee Grant)
Kate Hudson in the role of Jill (Goldie Hawn)
Lena Dunham in the role of Lorna (Carrie Fisher)
Nick Kroll in the role of Johnny Pope (Tony Bill)
Olivia Wilde in the role of Jackie (Julie Christie)













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THE PRINCESS BRIDE (December 15, 2011)

Patton Oswalt  in the role of  Vizzini (Wallace Shawn)
Nick Kroll  in the role of Count Rugen (Christopher Guest)
Kevin Pollak in the role of Miracle Max (Billy Crystal)
Mindy Kaling in the role of Buttercup (Robin Wright)
Bill Fagerbaake in the role of Fezzik (Andre the Giant)
Goran Visnjic in the role of Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin)

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THE APARTMENT (November 17, 2011)

Steve Carell  in the role of  C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon)

Natalie Portman  in the role of  Miss Kubelik (Shirley Temple)

Pierce Brosnan  in the role of  Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray)

Mindy Kaling  in the role of  Secretary Miss Olsen (Edie Adams)

Ken Jeong  in the role of  Senior  Exec. Dobisch (Ray Walston)

Collette Wolfe  in the role of  Phone operator Sylvia (Joan Shawlee)

Nick Kroll in the role of Senior Exec. Kirkeby (David Lewis)

Jake Johnson  in the role of  Dr. Dreyfuss (Jack Kruschen)

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THE BREAKFAST CLUB (October 20, 2011)

Jennifer Garner in the role of Claire (Molly Ringwald)
James Van Der Beek in the role of Andy (Emilio Estevez)
Mindy Kaling in the role of Allison (Ally Sheedy)
Patton Oswalt in the role of Brian (Anthony Michael Hall)
Aaron Paul in the role of Bender (Judd Nelson)
J.K. Simmons in the role of Carl the janitor (John Kapelos)
Michael Chiklis in the role of Mr. Vernon (Paul Gleason)