"Marilyn ... MADNESS & Me", a new one and a half person play by Frank V. Furino from an original concept by Didier Bloch will be directed by Joe Leonardo at the Monroe Forum at the El Portal Theatre, tonight, September 19 through October 20, 2013.
He met
Marilyn Monroe. He became obsessed with Norma Jean Baker. And that changed everything. The El Portal Theatre presents a poignant, compelling, and shocking tale of unrequited love, centered around the last month's of
Marilyn Monroe's life as told in first-person by the man who lived it, and confirmed by excerpts from Marilyn's diary. Frank V. Furino's "Marilyn ... MADNESS & Me," starring
Adam Meyer and introducing Alison Janes, who brings the essence of Marilyn to life, puts a revealing spotlight on a career that has mesmerized the world for generations.
The opening night gala will feature items from the personal collection of
Marilyn Monroe on loan from The Hollywood History Museum (
http://www.thehollywoodmuseum.com), which contains the nation's largest exhibit of authentic Monroe memorabilia. Items scheduled for display in the theatre lobby include Marilyn's dress worn to greet the US service men and on her honeymoon with Joe DiMaggio, jewelry, personal notes, an original copy of the LA Times declaring "
Marilyn Monroe Found Dead," the pill bottles found on Marilyn's bedside table the night she died and more.
The show runs in previews - September 19th through 25th, with the Gala Opening set for September 26th. The production will run September 19th through October 20th, playing Thurs, Fri & Sat at 8 pm, Saturday, and Sunday Matinee at 3:00pm at The Marilyn Forum at the El Portal, 5269 Lankershim Blvd. N. Hollywood, 91601.Tickets: Previews: $25 - All regular seats $34.99, Call 818-508-4200 or 866-811-4111 or visit
www.elportaltheatre.com/events.html.
WRITER/PRODUCER: Frank V. Furino is a successful writer and producer for primetime/daytime TV programs including "Flamingo Road," "Dallas," "Falcon Crest," "The Colbys," "General Hospital," and more, in addition to being the Executive Story Editor on "Dynasty." Co-Created and produced, "Nightingales" series for Spelling Productions/NBC. As the Director of Production for
Dick Clark Productions he created, wrote and produced nationally syndicated programs and was a writer for ABC-TV's "New Years Rockin' Eve." As Vice-President, Diamond P Enterprises, he wrote and produced syndicated sports and entertainment shows and was voted Syndicated Country Music Broadcast Producer of the Year by Billboard Magazine. As a staff director with ABC News/Sports, he worked along side Howard Cosell,
Keith Jackson, Ted Koppel, Peter Jennings, and more, covering NFL Football, Championship Boxing, Auto Racing, Space Shots, Political Conventions and The Olympics.
DIRECTOR:
Joe Leonardo's credits include "It's Better with a Band" in New York, London and Philadelphia "Me and My Girl," "Grand Hotel," "Sweeney Todd" (
Joseph Jefferson Award Winner/1993) and Miss Saigon. His first production of "At Wit's End" received 11 Carbonell Award nominations (2001). As Artistic Director of NETworks, he has overseen the national tours of "Kiss of the Spider Woman," "The Sound of Music," "Stage Fair," "Damn Yankees," "Victor/Victoria," "Big," "Show Boat," "Annie," "Jekyll and Hyde," "Bully," "The Civil War," "Cirque Ingenieux," "Cinderella," and "Ragtime."
Mr. Leonardo is the Laura Carnell Professor of Theater and Director of Theater at Temple University in Philadelphia. producing twenty-four seasons and directing over thirty musicals and plays by such authors as Shakespeare, Moliere, Chekhov, Genet, Stoppard, Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides.
Adam Meyer:
Adam Meyer fell into acting in High School through a computer error with a cast list and has never looked back since. On the Antaeus Stage he has been seen in Mother Courage and her Children, Tonight at 8:30, King Lear, The Malcontent, Peace In Our time, and Macbeth. Along with being a founding A2 Rep of the A2 ensemble, he has been seen in The Dumb Waiter, and The Thin Man in the A2 Ensemble Last Call productions. He has done Theatre all over the US at such reputable theatres as The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey,
Williamstown Theatre Festival and Cortland Repertory Theatre. Some TV credits include: Untold Stories from the E.R. (TLC) and Ella and Me (Animal Planet). Some WEB credits include: Adam in A to B, (www.atobonline.com), Captain Amazing in The Sanctum, (www.santumsodes.com), and has appeared in many sketches on www.meyerbros.net . He holds a BA in Theatre form Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Much Thanks and Love to
Rebecca Miller, Mom, Dad, Zack, and Mike.
ALISON JANES (Voice of Norma Jean/Marilyn): Alison Janes, who portrays
Marilyn Monroe, comes to this production with background in both film and theater. On screen she had the leading roles in "Morbid Minutes," "Phantom of the Opera," "The Twilight Zone: Curse of the Black Orlov" - she also had supporting roles in "Matters of the Heart," "The Mechanics," "Nighthawks" and more. Her theater credits include the role of Violet in "It's a Wonderful Life," Johanna in "Sweeney Todd," Mabel in "Pirates of Penzance," and Dawn Lovett in "Sidetracked." Alison has also graced the opera stage with singing roles in productions of "Die Fledermaus," "Candide," "Falstaff" and more. She is a graduate of DePaul University, Master of Music. And just for good measure she speaks French, German, Italian & Spanish.
The historic El Portal Theatre is located in North Hollywood. Opening in 1926 for Vaudeville, then Silent Movies, and then Academy Award-winning films, the Smithsonian choose the El Portal for induction ceremonies of their first permanent Entertainment History Exhibit. For more information, visit
www.elportaltheatre.com.
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