Photo Coverage: 'What's My Line?' Live on Stage

 van Straaten Entertainment, inc. announced last week the East Coast debut of What's My Line? - Live On Stage, a live, non-broadcast stage presentation of the popular game show that ran on American television for over 25 years.  J. Keith van Straaten (Comedy Central's "Beat The Geeks" and VH1's "Best Week Ever") hosts a panel of noted personalities along with weekly surprise celebrity "Mystery Guest."  Past Mystery Guests have included Larry King, Drew Carey, and Shirley Jones.  Departing from the 30-minute format of the original television series, the 75-minute stage version will also feature live music and performances. What's My Line? - Live On Stage, which had an initial run of six shows in November and December of 2004 in Los Angeles and ran over three years, will open Monday, March 24th with its 75th installment and play Monday evenings at 8:00 pm through April 28th.  All tickets are $25.00.  For tickets and information call (212) 239-6200 or visit www.Telecharge.com.  The Barrow Street Theatre is located at 27 Barrow Street at 7th Avenue, South of Christopher Street.  The show website is www.whatsmyline.org.

Panelists for Monday, March 24th included: Betsy Palmer - Longtime regular panelist on TV's "I've Got a Secret" and recurring panelist on original "What's My Line?,"   Michael Reidel - New York Post theatre columnist and co-host of "Theater Talk" on PBS, Stephanie D'Abbruzzo - Tony-nominated star of Avenue Q and  Barry Saltzman- Los Angeles stage actor and most frequent panelist on Los Angeles production of What's My Line? - Live On Stage. The surprise guest was funny man George Wendt from TVs "Cheers".

Appearing March 24 were Pia Lindstrom- Emmy-winning journalist, 23-year veteran of WNBC-TV, guest panelist on original "What's My Line?," Frank DeCaro - Host of "The Frank DeCaro Show" weekdays on Sirius Satellite Radio, Laurie Kilmartin - Comedienne and writer, regular panelist on VH1's "Best Week Ever" and blogger for 236.com  and Jonathan Ames  - Award-winning author (The Extra Man, Wake Up Sir)

"What's My Line?" premiered on CBS on February 2, 1950 and became an instant classic, running for 25 years on American television.  The stage version follows the basic format of the classic TV game show: Four celebrity panelists try to guess the occupation of a guest, asking only yes-or-no questions. The guests are all regular folks with unusual occupations --plus an appearance by a special celebrity mystery guest. This stage show, however, is not broadcast; the only audience is the folks who show up in the 199-seat theatre.  It's a real game with real people with real occupations and genuine celebrities --the show is not scripted and runs approximately 75 minutes, with no intermission.

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