A VISIT FROM SCARFACE to Open 10/8 at Barter Stage II

Beginning October 8, get ready to witness the hilarious and almost true story about the writer of the movie "Scarface"! From the mother/son writing duo, V. Cate and Duke Ernsberger, comes "A Visit from Scarface," playing at Barter Stage II.

The year is 1930 and Ben Hecht, the famous Hollywood screenwriter, has just finished his screenplay for a movie called "Scarface." It's loosely based on the real life story of Al Capone. The movie has the potential to be a blockbuster, and Hecht considers his script to be the best he's ever written. It all looks like a Hollywood happy ending. But when the script turns up in the hands of two of Capone's men, it could be curtains for Hecht! It's a full-on physical comedy as actors trip, toss, and tangle to get what they want.

V. Cate and Duke Ernsberger are known for taking a fascinating bit of history and expanding it into a witty and knee-slapping good time. This story began when Cate found an obscure article in an old film book. In the section was the true story of how Hecht was writing the screenplay for "Scarface" when he received a visit from two very scary mobsters who worked for Al Capone. The men came to put a little scare into Hecht just in case the movie said any bad things about their boss.

Another fun fact: "Scarface" would be remade in 1983 by Brian De Palma and Oliver Stone, starring Al Pacino.

Cate and Ernsberger were more than excited to bring back Ben Hecht for another adventure. The first time they wrote about Hecht was in "Don't Cry For Me, Margaret Mitchell," which was a sell-out hit for Barter. Other successful Cate/Ernsberger plays include "Dracula Bites" and "Elvis Has Left the Building."

Director Katy Brown also directed "Don't Cry For Me, Margaret Mitchell" five years ago. Brown is excited to meet Ben again at a different point in his life.

"This time, his script is missing, the censors are coming right into his hotel room, and there are mobsters threatening to take him for a little ride if he writes things they do not like. Lucky for him, he's got rapid-fire wit and a crazy sense of humor to help him out of any situation," said Brown.

Barter Resident Actor Rick McVey stars as Ben Hecht, newcomer Bob Payne is Myron Selznick, Holly Williams is a Hollywood starlet, Justin Tyler Lewis and Andrew Slane play the mobsters and Mary Lucy Bivins is Miss Spunk, the movie censor. Jim France and Terrance Jackson complete the cast.

"A Visit From Scarface" is sponsored by Wells Fargo Advisors and Out 'N About Magazine. Barter Theatre is funded in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information and tickets, visit www.BarterTheatre.com or call (276) 628-3991.