Winger to act at Psychological Assoc. convention

WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Debra Winger is to lead a dramatic reading as part of a panel discussion about addiction during the American Psychological Association convention.

The star of "Urban Cowboy," "An Officer and a Gentleman," "Terms of Endearment," "Shadowlands" and "Rachel Getting Married" will join other professional actors for Saturday's dramatic reading of Act III of Eugene O'Neill's drama "Long Day's Journey into Night" at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, organizers said.

Winger will be reading the part of Mary Tyrone, who is addicted to morphine. Tyrone's husband and sons suffer from alcoholism in the play, set in 1912.

Following the performance, a panel of psychologists will lead a discussion on addiction and audience members will be allowed to give their emotional and professional reactions to the production. Heading up the discussion will be Carlo C. DiClemente, Ph.D., psychologist and addictive behaviors expert, and David Shurtleff, Ph.D. and acting deputy director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.