Grease Paint Online; May, 2003

Five closed doors -- the principal element of the simplistic set for our upcoming production opening at the Palace Theatre this week, serve as a metaphor for the adult members of a Jewish family in Yonkers, New York during World War II in Neil Simon's comic drama Lost in Yonkers, winner of the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for drama. ACT I's final offering for Season 2002 - 2003: A Cast of Outcasts is a true "cast of outcasts" as every character in the story is an outcast from the rest. The emotionally detached relationships of four adult siblings and their mother are opened up as two young boys come to terms with their father's family. Set in the apartment above the family's candy store in Yonkers, this is a story of character rather than plot, and Neil Simon unfolds seven very unique and interesting characters during the course of the play.

Often thought of as more of a commercial success than an artistic one, Neil Simon created in Lost in Yonkers one of his finest plays. This is a coming of age story about two boys who are forced by circumstances to be separated from their father for nearly a year, spending that time with their grandmother. Playing the central role of fifteen year old Jay Kurnitz is WHS sophomore Blake Hansen, in his first major ACT I role. Blake is a veteran of several previous ACT I productions. Linda Merritt of Cedar Rapids makes her ACT I debut in the role of the domineering Grandma Kurnitz, who controls her children and grandchildren with a firm hand, and whose attitude of survival at all costs is at the core of her cold as steel personality. Linda appears regularly with Starlighters of Anamosa as well as Theatre Cedar Rapids and the Iowa City Community Theatre. Julie Canaday is Bella, the easily confused, childlike youngest child of Grandma Kurnitz, who seeks solace for her unhappy life by going to the movies. Julie was last seen in The Reluctant Dragon. Eleven year old Jordan Graham is Artie, Jay's younger brother, who has nothing but his wits to keep him going. Jordan is a fifth grader at CP-U. WHS senior Chris Braden portrays Louis, the gangster brother, in his ACT I debut. Judy Burkle of Cedar Rapids portrays Gert, the respiratorially challenged older sister, and director Steve Arnold doubles as Eddie, father of Jay and Artie.

Set and lighting design is by Kevin Bookmeier. Technical Director and Stage Manager is Ed Cardwell. Light and Sound operators are Erin Horst and Alex Martinez-Vasquez.

Grandma Kurnitz is the tough as nails matriarch of her family in Lost in Yonkers.

Above, Bella Kurnitz returns home from a movie theatre to tell Jay and Artie about a new friend.

Grandma Kurnitz embarrasses Bella in front of Jay and Artie by forcing her to hand over a movie magazine she has bought.

Above, Jay and Artie find themselves completely captivated by their Uncle Louis, an underworld figure who arrives unexpectedly in the middle of the night.

Jay watches with growing disgust as Uncle Louis teases Artie about the contents of his satchel.

Lost in Yonkers runs this week, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, May 9, 10, and 11, and next week Friday and Sunday, May 16 and 18. There will be no performance on May 17 due to a high school music program involving three of the cast members. All tickets are $5.00. Curtain times are 7:00 PM for Friday and Saturday performances and 2:00 for the Sunday matinees.

For additional information about this production go to the Lost in Yonkers page of this website at www.act1.org/yonkers.htm.

The ACT I Ticket information line and Palace Theatre Box Office number is 472-9957. Call now for reservations for Lost in Yonkers!

Thanks to the generosity of the late Natalie Grubb, ACT I and the Palace Theatre are pleased to announce demise of the backstage WALL and the arrival of a new black curtain to take its place.

The black theatre drapes and four wings were created and installed by Capital Decorating of Des Moines. Our ACT I audience will get its first look at the new backstage enhancement during the upcoming run of Lost in Yonkers.

The wooden sound shell that has graced the stage of the Palace since the theatre's opening in 1999 has been removed, and permanent stage curtains have been installed. Patrons of Lost in Yonkers will be the first to see the new look of the Palace stage, as the curtains form an integral part of the semi abstract set for Neil Simon's comic drama opening May 9.

Director Mike Williams held auditions for the upcoming ACT I musical, ANNIE, on April 12 at the ACT I Studio. More than 30 little girls read, danced, and sang their hearts out, hoping to win roles. Listed below is the youth cast.

Many talented adults also auditioned later that afternoon. The adult cast has not yet been posted. Watch the ACT I website or May Grease Paint for that information.

Molly – Willow Huber
Kate – Danisha Paldsen
Tessie – Clare Cooling
Annie – Felicia Hertle
July – Megan Horst
Duffy – Meghan Owens
Pepper – Melanie Williams

Emma Clingman
Marissa Eldred
Kelsey Franck
Alyssa Hanson
Emma Horst
Brittney Werner
Ivy Huber
Kate Martin
Miranda Swallom
Cailey Summers

ACT I, a non-profit community theatre organization, relies heavily on the generosity of its sponsors and members. One of our biggest supporters over the years has been Farmers Savings Bank and Trust in Vinton, Diamond GEM sponsor for the upcoming production of Lost in Yonkers. Farmers has also sponsored Harvey in 2000-2001 and Romeo and Juliet in 2001-2002, as well as many other past productions.

Recently, our main contact at the bank has been Bill Owens, vice president. Not only does he make sure Farmer’s contributes financially behind the scenes, but Bill, his wife Beth, and their two children, Meghan and Luke, actively contribute in a big way both on and off our ACT I stage.

It is an awakening to the humanities.
We gain a greater appreciation for how the arts have shaped our lives.

The Owens family began their ACT I adventure when Meghan was in kindergarten. That spring she appeared as a child in The Prince and the Pauper. Following that stint she has been seen on stage in Hansel and Gretel and Charlotte’s Web. Meghan and Bill appeared together in A Christmas Carol, and Meghan and Luke both played school children in The Red Shoes.

Bill and Luke have each appeared without Meghan in shows – Luke in The Truly Remarkable Puss-in-Boots, and Bill in The Crucible and Romeo and Juliet – but we have yet to see Beth on stage (although she has worked our back stage arena often). Until now…

This month, both Meghan and Mom tried out for Annie, which opens in September. Meghan was cast as the orphan, Duffy, and, though the adult cast has not yet been announced, Grease Paint has the inside scoop! Beth will be appearing ON STAGE in the upcoming musical!

Reading their impressive list of ACT I credits, it’s impossible to believe the Owens family has a minute to spare any other activity. Bill fulfills his civic duty serving on the Vinton City Council. Beth, a certified public school teacher, is currently filling a long-term substitute position at Tilford Middle School. They are members of the Vinton Country Club and enjoy other outdoor activities, as well.

ACT I is only one of many facets of our community. It does, however, have the distinction of showcasing some of the best and brightest we have to offer.

The Owens family is proud to live in and support a town that pulls together for the betterment of its own, including promotion of the arts. They feel this sense of community most at the Palace Theatre.

View the past articles in our Member of the Month series! All previous Member of the Month features (beginning with September, 1998) have been archived and can be accessed in one convenient place. Older articles have been updated to make the members' accomplishments current! To visit the Member of the Month Archives, go to www.act1.org/mom.htm.

Next month is the tenth anniversary of the first Neil Simon production to be staged by ACT I. As we prepare for our second Neil Simon play this month, we take a look at some of the plays by one of the most famous playwrights of our time. Often criticized for being more commercially than artistically minded, never-the-less Neil Simon is one of the dominant names in the American theatre for the late 20th century.

1. Lost in Yonkers is not the first Neil Simon play to be set in the 1940s with a teenage Jewish boy as the central character. Several years earlier, he produced a piece that was openly autobiographical, the first in a trilogy about a character based on his own life. The second and third plays in this trilogy were Biloxi Blues and Broadway Bound. Name the first and best known play in this series. (Hint: Like the other two, the words in this title also start with B... B...)

2. ACT I's first Neil Simon play was probably his most famous title, The Odd Couple. This play was originally written in the early sixties featuring two men; but it was later re-written with the genders of every character being switched. This version, originally presented on Broadway in 1985 with Rita Moreno as Olive Madison and Sally Stuthers as Florence Unger, was staged by ACT I in 1993. Give the original male names of the two characters that became Olive and Florence.

3. Early in his career, Neil Simon wrote the book to a musical with a score by Burt Bacharach. Name the show.

4. In 1968, Neil Simon produced a hit show featuring three separate stories held together with a common thread -- all three took place in the same suite in New York's Plaza Hotel. Name the play.

5. Considered one of Neil Simon's best plays, this one has been on the table more than once by the ACT I play selection committee. It consists of a series of playlets based upon the short stories of Russian author Anton Chekov.

6. Considered a good script (and one of Simon’s favorites) despite the fact that it was a commercial "failure," this drama was his first departure from his famous "laugh a minute" comic format, featuring in its short Broadway run Maureen Stapleton as a middle aged alcoholic.

7. This play told the story of the reunion of a feuding, cantankerous vaudeville team for one last, failed performance.

8. Neil Simon's first major hit, this play about the misadventures of a pair of newlyweds remains a favorite Simon play with the public today.

The next meeting of the Board of ACT I of Benton County will be Monday, May 12, 2003, at 8:30 at the Cooling Dance Studio.

Members and visitors are always welcome at board meetings!

Minutes of all meetings of the ACT I board from July, 2000 on can be accessed from a link on the "Everything You Need to Know About ACT I" page, or on the "Minutes" page of our website, www.act1.org/minutes.htm.

Occasionally ACT I puts out an all-call to its membership for “shows you want to see.” The decision to do this month’s Lost in Yonkers came from one such recent survey. You want Neil Simon - you got Neil Simon! Hope to see everyone at your theatre next week for this long-awaited favorite.

Answers to Last Month’s Quiz

Name That Prop