BWW Previews: HERB & LENNY at Antrim Playhouse

BROADWAYWORLD ROCKLAND AND WESTCHESTER PICK OF THE WEEK:

HERB AND LENNY (Last Call at the Hotel Saccer Vien)

A Benefit for Antrim Playhouse / A reading of a new play by Peter Danish

8pm Saturday Aug 29th.

Antrim Playhouse in Suffern, NY is celebrating its 78th season of providing first class theater in Rockland County. Their new season begins next month with a production of "Boeing Boeing." But the "little theater that could" is holding a benefit this Saturday night, August 29th. For one night only, Antrim presents a special staged reading of a new play by bestselling author Peter Danish, entitled: "HERB AND LENNY - Last Call at the Hotel Saccer Vien." The play focuses on the final meeting of the two great giants of 20th century music and cultural icons.

In 1989, shortly before both men passed away, the two greatest conductors of the 20th Century, Leonard Bernstein and Herbert Von Karajan, crossed paths for the first time in decades in Vienna. Von Karajan, arguably the greatest European conductor of the 20th century, was conducting his final performances with the Vienna Philharmonic. Bernstein, certainly the greatest American conductor of the 20th century, was in town to receive the Key to the city and be named an honorary Austrian. As fate would have it, the two lifelong rivals, adversaries, enemies, happened to cross paths in the Saccer Hotel in Vienna. Although history holds no record of the contents of the conversation, playwright Danish has fashioned a sparkling, witty and passionately intense dialogue between the two great men. With mortality creeping up on them, the lifelong rivals discuss and debate everything from the nature of art, the purpose of music and the human condition. Inevitably, the Austrian Nazi heritage of Von Karajan clashes with the Jewish American heritage of Bernstein in a particularly human and unpredictable manner.

Fans of both Bernstein and Von Karajan will delight in the discourse as the two legends challenge one another and ultimately themselves. You don't need to be a fan of Bernstein, Von Karajan or even classical music to enjoy "HERB AND LENNY." Directed by Kathleen Mahan. Starring Alan Demovsky as Lenny, Arthur Chill as Herb, and Andrew Beadle as Michael.

HERB AND LENNY - A BENEFIT FOR ANTRIM PLAYHOUSE

Saturday Aug. 29th 8pm.

Antrim Playhouse, Suffern, NY

TIckets are available at www.antrimplayhouse.com