Broadway Veteran Lee Welling Releases New Book THE ACTOR?

In his debut novel, The Actor?, author Lee Welling offers readers a captivating account of a washed-up former Broadway star's foray into espionage during the Cold War. A rollicking, riveting tale of one performer's service to his county during one of the tensest periods in history, The Actor? is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Readers join George L. Toomey II, a down-on-his-luck actor, as he traverses the seas as an entertainer on a cruise ship. Toomey pines for the past, when he was one of Broadway's top stars and always in demand. Toomey is not just any hapless, underemployed actor: he was a spy for the United States during the Cold War. Espionage ruins his life and successful career after he undertakes a dangerous mission, during which he goes behind the Iron Curtain under the guise of his participation in a cultural exchange tour that brought Broadway entertainment to Russia. After Toomey's mission goes awry, he finds himself in grave danger.

Toomey initially agrees to the tour because the U.S. State Department has promised him that, in exchange for his cooperation, they will see to it that he plays his Broadway roles in Hollywood. Like so many Broadway stars of the 50s-Mary Martin, Ethel Merman, Alfred Drake, Julie Andrews, Carol Channing, to name a few-the roles that Toomey originates on the stage are played by other actors on the screen. Instead of making him a celebrity; however, the tour ends in disaster, leaving Toomey without a career, life, or family. He is even denied his identity, as he leaves the stage and goes on the run from the KGB, which leads him to become a drama teacher and cruise ship performer under an assumed name. He must desperately fight his way back to the top, but can he?

Welling says, "The book is a metaphor for resilience. There isn't any actor, director, or anyone who as ever worked on Broadway who didn't need to develop resilience to survive."

Lee Welling is an experienced theatre professional with a wealth of experience behind the scenes of the Broadway theatre, which he brings to his debut novel, The Actor?, a thriller and love story at the height of the Cold War. Starting from the bottom as a "gofer" for producer Kermit Bloomgarden on the Stephen Sondheim musical Anyone Can Whistle, and backstage elevator boy at the Alvin Theatre, during a production of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," Welling rose through the ranks to become a stage manager for many productions, including "George M!" and " Sherry," and summer stock tours.

From there, he transitioned to a new role in the theatre: marketing and group sales for more than 350 Broadway shows. Within the group travel industry, Welling went on to many accolades, including: induction into Cunard Lines' Inner Circle sales club, Norwegian Cruise Lines' President's Club sales club, and induction into the first advisory board of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). Currently, he owns a group travel business, The Travel Group Department.

Starting his writing career in his 70s, Welling brings his wealth of experiences in theatre, travel, and life to his books. He is currently writing the second novel in his "The Actor?" trilogy.

For more information, please visit www.theactor.biz

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