Herb Gardner News

Following months of reading scripts, discussion, and meticulous season planning, Two River Theater Company is proud to announce the 2010-11 Season. Outgoing Artistic Director Aaron Posner had this to say about the season: "Two River Theater is committed to bringing theater of the highest caliber to the Red Bank and Monmouth County communities. The staff and I have worked tirelessly to create a season of the quality our audiences have come to expect from us, with world-class actors, directors, and designers. Many artists will be familiar to Two River audiences: Matt Pfeiffer-the director of Charlie Brown-is back to direct this year's family show, along with Aaron Cromie, who designed the puppets for Our Town."

Taproot Theatre continues its 34th season in March with the regional premiere of Brooklyn Boy by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Donald Margulies. As Margulies' newest play receives rave reviews on Broadway, Seattle audiences are in for a treat as his comedic and heartfelt play about middle aged novelist Eric Weiss comes to the Northwest for the first time. In Brooklyn Boy, Eric finally starts to come of age-a couple decades too late. He's finally made it big with a best seller and a shot at a Hollywood film, but then an inconvenient phone call brings him back to the Brooklyn neighborhood he grew up in and happily left behind. Witty and deeply touching, this story of growing up, coming home and making sense of it all is sure to warm your heart. Directed by associate artistic director Karen Lund, Brooklyn Boy opens tonight, March 19, and runs through April 17.

Actors Len Cariou, Penny Fuller, Judd Hirsch, and Tony Roberts are scheduled to appear in upcoming Paley Center for Media's 'Food For Thought.'

Actors Len Cariou, Penny Fuller, Judd Hirsch, and Tony Roberts are scheduled to appear in upcoming Paley Center for Media's 'Food For Thought.'

NY Female Trio Red Molly will play the Emelin Theatre on Saturday, March 6 at 8PM.

Actors Len Cariou, Penny Fuller, Judd Hirsch, and Tony Roberts are scheduled to appear in upcoming Paley Center for Media's 'Food For Thought.'

Taproot Theatre continues its 34th season in March with the regional premiere of Brooklyn Boy by Pulitzer Prize?winning playwright Donald Margulies.

Capping off a season of new play development-which included performances of The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later and Equivocation with Oregon Shakespeare Festival-Seattle Repertory Theatre presents three high-profile new plays under the umbrella of their New Play Program.

NY Female Trio Red Molly will play the Emelin Theatre on Saturday, March 6 at 8PM.

Ken Ludwig's comedy LEND ME A TENOR starring Anthony LaPaglia, Tony Shalhoub, Jan Maxwell, Mary Catherine Garrison, Jennifer Laura Thompson, Jay Klaitz, and Brooke Adams, directed by Stanley Tucci, will bow on Broadway on April 4, 2010 at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street). Preview performances begin March 11. Additonal casting will be announced.

The New Jewish Theatre announces their 2009-2010 season. Called a 'Bat Mitzvah Season of Tradition', the list includes: CONVERSATIONS WITH MY FATHER (currently playing), BROOKLYN BOY, THE PEOPLE'S VIOLIN, ROMEO AND JULIET, and LAUGHTER ON THE 23RD FLOOR.

CONVERSATIONS WITH MY FATHER is kind of a misnomer. The character of Eddie Ross (nee Goldberg) doesn't converse as much as harangue the people around him. But, don't take this as a knock on Herb Gardner's play; it's more of a clarification than anything. This isn't just the ramblings of a bitter old man, but an exploration of his particular experience immigrating to America, and trying to fit in by rejecting his Jewish heritage.

The New Jewish Theatre opens its 'Bat Mitzvah Season' on Wednesday, September 30 with Herb Gardner's 1994 quasi-autobiographical classic about three generations of a Jewish family living on the lower East Side, CONVERSATIONS WITH MY FATHER. Gardner's play, a beautiful paean to the Jewish immigrant experience and father-son relationships explores the story of Eddie Ross (nee Itzhak Goldberg), a Russian immigrant who with his family, runs a Canal Street saloon.

The New Jewish Theatre opens its 'Bat Mitzvah Season' on Wednesday, September 30 with Herb Gardner's 1994 quasi-autobiographical classic about three generations of a Jewish family living on the lower East Side, CONVERSATIONS WITH MY FATHER. Gardner's play, a beautiful paean to the Jewish immigrant experience and father-son relationships explores the story of Eddie Ross (nee Itzhak Goldberg), a Russian immigrant who with his family, runs a Canal Street saloon.

With Matthew Modine playing a role he is unequivocally perfect for (a fictionalized version of himself), one can imagine the casting challenge for the rest of the characters in the Geffen Playhouse's upcoming production of Matthew Modine Saves the Alpacas. But - barring having identical names to the characters they play - the Geffen Playhouse's cast includes a troupe of comedians befitting their satirical roles.

As an eight year-old in New Jersey, Faugno fell in love with musical theater. when he injured himself playing sports he made the decision to give up sports and study dance and theater. Blessed with understanding parents and outstanding teachers, Faugno (that's pronounced 'Fawn-Yo') got his first part at the age of 12 in The Will Rogers Follies on Broadway. He played Judd Hirsch's son in the Herb Gardner play Conversations With My Father and has appeared in regional theater across the USA. At the moment, he's a Las Vegas Strip fixture playing Frankie Valli in the terrific Jersey Boys.

With Matthew Modine playing a role he is unequivocally perfect for (a fictionalized version of himself), one can imagine the casting challenge for the rest of the characters in the Geffen Playhouse's upcoming production of Matthew Modine Saves the Alpacas. But - barring having identical names to the characters they play - the Geffen Playhouse's cast includes a troupe of comedians befitting their satirical roles.

Intiman Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Bartlett Sher and Managing Director Brian Colburn, announces that outgoing Board President Susan J. Leavitt and William H. Block, a former Intiman Trustee and Director of the Committee to End Homelessness in King County, will be honored for their outstanding contributions to Intiman at the 2009 Gala.

Intiman Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Bartlett Sher and Managing Director Brian Colburn, will present a special conversation between actors Judd Hirsch, John Procaccino and Matthew Boston about the work of playwright Herb Gardner on Monday, June 1 at 7 pm. Tickets are $10 and are available now from www.intiman.org or 206.269.1900.

Herb Gardner's comedy 'A Thousand Clowns' at Seattle's Intiman theater, while not a brilliant evening of not to be missed theater, is definitely an enjoyable night out with a funny yet introspective show. Plus it demonstrates Gardner's gift with wonderfully witty dialogue.