THE NORMAL HEART 40th Anniversary Benefit Reading

Michael Cyril Creighton

David/Hiram Keebler/Examining Doctor

MICHAEL CYRIL CREIGHTON (David/Hiram Keebler/Examining Doctor) is best known for playing Howard Morris on Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building.” A SAG Award winner, his TV credits include "Dexter: New Blood,” “A League of Their Own,” “High Maintenance,” “Bob’s Burgers,” “30 Rock,” and the final season of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” His film work includes the Academy Award–winning Spotlight, American Fiction, The Post, and Game Night. Theater highlights are Stage Kiss (Playwrights Horizons), The Amateurs (The Vineyard), and four world premieres with The Debate Society. He can currently be seen in The New Group’s production of The Adding Machine. He won a WGA Award for “Jack in a Box.” Next: Amazon MGM’s The Man with the Bag. 

Billy Eichner

Ned Weeks

BILLY EICHNER (Ned Weeks) is a four-time Emmy-nominated actor, comedian, writer, and producer. His iconic series “Billy on the Street” became a cultural phenomenon, earning multiple Emmy nominations and hundreds of millions of views online. Eichner starred in, co-wrote, and produced the critically acclaimed film Bros (Critics Choice nominee for Best Comedy). Upcoming, he appears in Amazon MGM Studios’ Judgement Day alongside Will Ferrell, Zac Efron, and Regina Hall. His new memoir, Billy on Billy, will be available exclusively as an audiobook on May 19. His credits include Ryan Murphy’s “The Beauty;” Ethan Coen’s Honey, Don’t!; “Impeachment: American Crime Story” as Matt Drudge; “American Horror Story;” “Parks & Recreation;” and voicing Timon in 2019’s The Lion King and its prequel Mufasa. 

David Greenspan

Mickey Marcus

DAVID GREENSPAN (Mickey Marcus) has appeared in his plays Dead Mother, She Stoops to Comedy, Go Back to Where You Are, I’m Looking for Helen Twelvetrees, The Memory Motel; his solo plays The Argument and The Myopia; solo renditions: Barry Conners’ comedy The Patsy, Eugene O’Neill’s six-hour drama Strange Interlude and Gertrude Stein’s experimental Four Saints in Three Acts; premieres/revivals: notably Prince Faggot, Some Men, The Boys in the Band, Faust; three solo plays: Joey Merlo’s On Set With Theda Bara, Mona Pirnot’s I’m Assuming You Know David Greenspan and Jerry Lieblich’s without mirrors; honors include a RUTHIE and eight OBIES.

Jeff Hiller

Tommy Boatwright

JEFF HILLER (Tommy Boatwright) is an Emmy-winning actor and comedian, honored in 2025 with the award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy for his role as Joel on HBO’s “Somebody Somewhere.” He recently guest starred on “Pluribus” for Apple TV+ and is recurring on “Stumble” for NBC, as well as Hiro Murai’s upcoming series for Apple TV+, “Widow’s Bay.” Recently, Hiller appeared in special guest star roles in “Elsbeth” and “Ghosts” for CBS. In addition to publishing his memoir Actress of a Certain Age in 2025, Hiller recently wrapped up the run of his one-man show Jeff Hiller is Basic at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater. Hiller can also be seen in the most recent season of “American Horror Stories.” Hiller started performing at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in NYC, eventually becoming a regular cast member in the flagship improv show ASSSSCAT. Hiller has had recurring roles on “American Horror Story,” 30 Rock, “The McCarthys,” “Impastor,” “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” and “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” and was a series regular on the Pop Network original “Nightcap.” Other guest star roles include “Psych,” “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” “Broad City,” and “Community.” Film appearances include Greta, Set It Up, Morning Glory, Ghost Town, and Adam. Hiller has appeared on Broadway (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Urinetown), Off-Broadway (Bright Colors and Bold Patterns, Silence!, Heartbreak House), in Free Shakespeare in the Park (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Love’s Labour’s Lost), and as Panic in Disney’s Hercules with Public Works. Hiller is a cast member of improv show Raaaatscraps which regularly performs Sunday nights at Caveat in NYC. As a writer, Hiller sold a pilot to Universal Cable Productions and is developing a pilot with Zachary Quinto’s Before The Door Productions. 

Cory Michael Smith

Bruce Niles

CORY MICHAEL SMITH (Bruce Niles) film credits include Saturday Night, Sentimental Value, Mountainhead, May December, Call Jane, First Man, Carol, Wonderstruck, 1985, and Camp X-Ray. Television credits include "Transatlantic," "Gotham" and "Olive Kitteridge." Upcoming, he’ll be seen starring in Joe Swanberg’s The Sun Never Sets and Jeremy Saulnier’s October for A24. On stage, he has starred in Cock (Duke on 42nd St), The Whale (Playwrights Horizons), and Breakfast at Tiffany's (Broadway). 

Ben Stiller

Ben Weeks

BEN STILLER is one of Hollywood's most successful and acclaimed actors, directors, writers and producers, and founder and principal of Red Hour Films. He made his Broadway debut in 1986 in John Guare’s The House of Blue Leaves, in the role of “Ronnie,” opposite John Mahoney, Swoosie Kurtz, and Stockard Channing; and auspiciously returned to the play for its 2011 Broadway revival, playing “Artie” opposite Edie Falco, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Christopher Abbott. Onscreen, he is currently in production on the Apple TV limited series "The Off Weeks," which he stars in and executive produces opposite Jessica Chastain; and he will next star in Focker-In-Law, the new Meet the Parents film, opposite Robert DeNiro and Ariana Grande. His prolific filmography includes Night at the Museum, The Royal Tenenbaums, There’s Something About Mary, The Meyerowitz Stories, Brad’s Status, Greenberg, and While We’re Young, as well as films he starred in and directed such as Tropic Thunder, Zoolander, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and Reality Bites. He won an Emmy Award for his breakthrough sketch series "The Ben Stiller Show," and as a filmmaker, his recent television triumphs include the multi award-winning "Escape at Dannemora" and Apple TV’s "Severance," for which he has received Emmy nominations, a DGA Award, and the Peabody Award for Entertainment.

Ali Stroker

Dr. Emma Brookner

ALI STROKER (Dr. Emma Brookner) is a Tony Award winner for her role as Ado Annie in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! She made history as the first actor in a wheelchair to appear on Broadway in Deaf West’s acclaimed revival of Spring Awakening and the first actor in a wheelchair to win a Tony. She was a series regular on the Netflix series “Echoes,” and starred in the Lifetime holiday film, Christmas Ever After. Stroker recurred in the final season of Netflix's “Ozark” and in Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building.” She co-wrote the novel The Chance to Fly and its sequel Cut Loose!; and she wrote the children's book Ali and the Sea Stars. She was recently seen opposite Matthew Broderick in Babbitt at Shakespeare Theatre Company in D.C. and played Lady Anne in the Free Shakespeare in the Park production of Richard III. She’s performed her one-woman show all over the country. Her mission to improve the lives of others through the arts is captured in her motto: “Turning Your Limitations Into Your Opportunities.” 

Michael Urie

Felix Turner

MICHAEL URIE (Felix Turner) currently stars in the third season of Apple TV’s ”Shrinking,” which has earned him an Emmy Award nomination and Critics Choice Award. Additional onscreen credits include “Ugly Betty,” “Younger,” and Netflix’s first gay holiday rom-com, Single All the Way. On stage, Urie appeared in Jonathan Tollins' Buyer & Cellar, Harvey Fierstein's Torch Song, and revivals of Tony Kushner’s A Bright Room Called Day and Angels in America. Most recently, he helped reopen the Astor Place Theater just across the street as the title role in Shakespeare’s Richard II. A Juilliard graduate, Urie co-founded Pride Plays, an annual theater festival that champions LGBTQIA+ storytelling. 

Else Went

Stage Directions

ELSE WENT (Playwright) is the current Tow Foundation Resident Playwright at The Public Theater and has had work developed through labs and groups at The Public (EWG), Ars Nova (Play Group), WP (Lab), Playwrights Realm (Fellowship), Trans Theatre Lab, among others. Recipient of new work commissions from MTC Sloan Foundation, South Coast Repertory, and Breaking the Binary Festival, among others. Her play An Oxford Man received a special commendation from the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize in 2025.