Birmingham, Mich. (WXYZ)
The hit Broadway play "Act 1" is on stage at the Birmingham Village Players. It's based on the autobiography of legendary playwright Moss Hart (half of the famous team of Kauffman and Hart.)
It's billed as a "funny, heartbreaking and suspenseful" play about the guts and determination to pursue your dreams. The show runs through March 25th. Tickets are available at birminghamvillageplayers.com
– The Village Players of Birmingham opens its 4th production of its 95th season with James Lapine's tribute to a life in the theatre; ACT ONE. The play is based on playwright Moss Hart's autobiography of the same title.
Here's what the Birmingham Village Players say about the show:
"Act One by Jame Lapine is Moss’ Hart’s famous memoir, the story of growing up in an impoverished Jewish family in the Bronx in the 1920s, while dreaming of being part of the glamorous world of the stage. Forced to drop out of school at age 13, Hart’s pluck, determination and talent led him to form an unlikely collaboration with legendary playwright George S. Kaufman and ultimately succeed on Broadway. Act One features a cast of 14 portraying more than 50 different real life theatre luminaries including Edna Ferber, Dorothy Parker, Harpo Marx and Langston Hughes. James Lapine’s Act One is a funny, heartbreaking and suspenseful play, celebrating the triumph of one’s spirit and determination, and the magic behind the footlights.
Act One officially opened on Broadway to critical acclaim at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre in Lincoln Center on April 17, 2014. The play has been hailed as a 'nostalgic and ultimately upbeat reflection on fulfilling a dream.'
Act One is directed by veteran Village Players member Jay Kaplan of Oak Park. Jay has directed several Village Player’s productions including Kaufman and Hart’s 1938 comedy The Man Who Came to Dinner.
'This play is about guts and determination to pursue and achieve your dreams,' says Kaplan. 'I hope audiences feel uplifted by Moss Hart’s story- that you can achieve your dreams by refusing to give up, despite the odds and obstacles.'"
Act One runs approximately Remaining show dates and times are March 16, 17, 23 & 24 2018 at 8:00 p.m. and March 18 & 25 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $19.00 (plus a $1.00 processing fee for each ticket order) and are available online at www.birminghamvillageplayers.com or by calling the theatre box office at 248-644-2075. The Village Players theatre is located at 34660 Woodward Avenue in Birmingham.
The Cast of Act One:
Salvatore Sbrocca - Moss Hart from Rochester
Tony Amato - Older Moss, George S. Kaufman, Moss’ Father from Grosse Pointe Woods
Sue Chekaway - Aunt Kate, Frieda Fishbein, Beatrice Kaufman from Bloomfield Hills
Jonas Annear-Young Mossy Hart, Bernie Hart from Birmingham
Marcus Caesar - Wally, Charles Gilpin, Max Siegel, Langston Hughes from Detroit
Eric Kent Franz - Sir John, Priestly Morgan, Dore Schary, Adolph Marx, George from Ferndale
Jillian Frederick - Lady Caroline, Belle, Phyllis Gillman, Muriel, Dorothy Parker from Macomb
Nasir Khawaja - Mr. Borofsky, Jed Harris, Slimovitz, Alexander Woollcott, Porter from Southfield
Sean Kocaj - Irving Gordon, Jerry, Manager, Waiter, Theater Usher from Royal Oak
Jessica Presberry - Hester, Rosalind Goldfine Himmelman, Aline McMahon, May from Roseville
Steve Sussman - Augustus Pitou, Sam Harris from Bloomfield Township
Ethan Tolentino - Eddie Chodorov, Joseph Regan, Pianist from Sterling Heights
Tania L. Velinsky - Lillie Hart, Mrs. Henry B. Harris, Helen Hobart from Royal Oak
Julie Smith Yolles - Mrs. Borofksy, Ida, Edna Ferber, Estelle Rosenbloom from Bingham Farms
