Act One 2014 - Articles Page 1.8

Opened: April 17, 2014
Closing: June 15, 2014

Act One - 2014 - Broadway History , Info & More

When the playwright and director, Moss Hart, published his autobiography, "Act One," in 1959 it was a sensation, filled with vivid recollections of colorful characters, especially Hart's first great collaborator, the brilliant George S. Kaufman.

The book gave a fascinating insider's view of how a show really gets to the stage. Many people feel it has never been bettered. "Act One" was more than just a Broadway tale, though. It was a bestseller for almost a year, topping the New York Times list for 41 weeks. Why would this story of the playwright and director's early years be so wildly and widely popular?

We think it's because "Act One" is not just the ultimate valentine to the theater. It is also a Dickensian story of a young immigrant and his family, struggling to escape poverty in the early 20th century. From tenements to glamorous townhouses, from Buffalo stages to Catskills summer camps, and finally to the Broadway of his dreams, Hart's masterful telling captures the hope, misery and comedy of the climb, but also the glee of making it - because he did! A classic New York story.

Now, almost 75 years after Moss Hart's first Broadway success, James Lapine (who knows a thing or two about collaboration from his many shows written with Stephen Sondheim) brings ACT ONE to the stage. He has written and directs this world premiere production at the Beaumont. Tony Shalhoub, playing both George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart as an adult, is familiar to LCT audiences as the father in Golden Boy for which he was nominated for a Tony Award last season. Santino Fontana (the Tony-nominated prince in Broadway's Cinderella) portrays Mr. Hart as a young man. Andrea Martin (Tony winner for her spectacular turn as Berthe in Pippin, and also for LCT's My Favorite Year) plays Aunt Kate, a pivotal figure in Hart's early life.

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FEATURED REVIEWS FOR Act One

Act One
8 / 10

In its trajectory and most memorable scenes and players, Lapine's stage adaptation of Hart's sprawling tale -- part rags-to-riches fable, part showbiz fantasy, part professional handbook -- is quite faithful and wrought with abundant skill and empathy...Less smoothly transferred from page to stage is Hart's narrative tone...But Lapine's Act One is a play, not an audiobook or TV miniseries. If this adaptation included considerably more narration, it would invite complaints of too much telling, not enough showing. So credit is due to Lapine for efffectively distilling a fast-moving memory play...Lapine has a superb cast at his disposal -- the thoroughly charming Fontana, the drolly tetchy and bilious Shalhoub, and, in a few crucial, nurturing mother-figure roles, the grace-filled Andrea Martin.

Fans of ‘Act One’ will be cruelly let down by stage version
5 / 10

You can't fault the likable cast, led by Santino Fontana ('Cinderella') as the young Hart, while Tony Shalhoub plays him as a middle-aged man reflecting back on his adventures. But splitting the part creates unnecessary distractions, especially since Shalhoub also plays Hart's father and his co-writer. He's highly amusing as the kooky, nitpicking Kaufman, but this doesn't take us far. And the invaluable Andrea Martin is underused despite handling three (small) roles, including Hart's eccentric, stage-crazed Aunt Kate.

LCT's Platform Series to Continue with ACT ONE's James Lapine, 4/8
by Tyler Peterson - April 3, 2014

Lincoln Center Theater's Platform Series, a forum for public discussion between Lincoln Center Theater artists and interested theatergoers, continues its 16th season on Tuesday April 8, at 6 pm with JAMES LAPINE, the playwright and director ACT ONE.

Photo Flash: First Look at Tony Shalhoub, Santino Fontana & Andrea Martin in ACT ONE
by Nicole Rosky - April 1, 2014

The Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of Producing Artistic Director Andre Bishop) production of ACT ONE, a play written and directed by James Lapine from the autobiography by Moss Hart, is currently in previews at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre. The cast features Bob Ari, Bill Army, Will Brill, Laurel Casillo, Chuck Cooper, Santino Fontana, Steven Kaplan, Will LeBow, Mimi Lieber, Charlotte Maier, Noah Marlowe, Andrea Martin, Greg McFadden, Deborah Offner, Lance Roberts, Matthew Saldivar, Matthew Schechter, Tony Shalhoub, Jonathan Spivey, Wendy Rich Stetson, Bob Stillman and Amy Warren. ACT ONE will open on Thursday, April 17. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the cast in action below!

Welcome Moss Hart Back to Broadway - Meet the Full Cast of Lincoln Center's ACT ONE, Beginning Tomorrow!
by Meet the Cast - March 19, 2014

Lincoln Center Theater presents Act One, a play written and directed by James Lapine from the autobiography by Moss Hart. The production is scheduled to begin previews tomorrow night, March 20 and will open on Thursday, April 17 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater (150 West 65 Street). Scroll down to learn more about the full company, plus check out the latest TV spot for the production!

STAGE TUBE: Watch Tony Shalhoub, Santino Fontana & Andrea Martin in ACT ONE TV Spot!
by Nicole Rosky - March 12, 2014

Lincoln Center Theater will soon present Act One, a play written and directed by James Lapine from the autobiography by Moss Hart. The production is scheduled to begin previews Thursday, March 20 and open on Thursday, April 17 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater (150 West 65 Street). The play will feature Bill Army, Will Brill, Laurel Casillo, Chuck Cooper, Steven Kaplan, Will LeBow, Mimi Lieber,Charlotte Maier, Andrea Martin, Deborah Offner, Matthew Saldivar, Matthew Schechter, Bob Stillman,Amy Warren, Santino Fontana and Tony Shalhoub. BroadwayWorld brings you the just-released television spot, featuring Shalhoub, Fontana & Martin, below!

Photo Coverage: Meet the Company of Broadway's ACT ONE- Santino Fontana, Tony Shalhoub, Andrea Martin & More!
by Walter McBride - March 5, 2014

Lincoln Center Theater will soon present Act One, a play written and directed by James Lapine from the autobiography by Moss Hart. The production is scheduled to begin previews Thursday, March 20 and open on Thursday, April 17 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater (150 West 65 Street). The play will feature Bill Army, Will Brill, Laurel Casillo, Chuck Cooper, Steven Kaplan, Will LeBow, Mimi Lieber, Charlotte Maier, Andrea Martin, Deborah Offner, Matthew Saldivar, Matthew Schechter, Bob Stillman,Amy Warren, Santino Fontana and Tony Shalhoub. The company met the press yesterday and BroadwayWorld was on hand for the big event. Check out complete photo coverage below!

FREEZE FRAME: Tony Shalhoub, Santino Fontana & Cast of ACT ONE Meets the Press
by Walter McBride - March 4, 2014

The company met the press earlier today and BroadwayWorld was on hand for the big event. Check out a photo preview from the festivities below, and be sure to check back later for complete coverage!

Andrea Martin, Chuck Cooper & More to Join Tony Shaloub, Santino Fontana in James Lapine's ACT ONE on Broadway
by Tyler Peterson - January 14, 2014

Lincoln Center Theater has announced that Bill Army, Will Brill, Laurel Casillo, Chuck Cooper, Steven Kaplan, Will LeBow, Mimi Lieber, Charlotte Maier, Andrea Martin, Deborah Offner, Matthew Saldivar, Matthew Schechter, Bob Stillman and Amy Warren will join Santino Fontana and Tony Shalhoub in the cast of its upcoming production of ACT ONE, a play written and directed by James Lapine from the autobiography by Moss Hart. The production is scheduled to begin previews Thursday, March 20 and open on Thursday, April 17 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater (150 West 65 Street).

Breaking News: Santino Fontana & Tony Shalhoub to BOTH Play 'Moss Hart' in Upcoming ACT ONE
by Robert Diamond - December 8, 2013

Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of Producing Artistic Director Andre Bishop) has announced that actors Santino Fontana and Tony Shalhoub will both be featured as the legendary writer/director Moss Hart at different stages of his life in its upcoming production of ACT ONE, a play written and directed by James Lapine from the autobiography by Moss Hart. The production, which will also feature a third actor who will play Mr. Hart as a young boy, is scheduled to begin previews Thursday, March 20 and open onThursday, April 17 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater (150 West 65 Street).

Lincoln Center Announces 2013-14 Shows; Ethan Hawke in MACBETH, Laurie Metcalf in DOMESTICATED & James Lapine-Helmed ACT ONE
by Nicole Rosky - June 13, 2013

Lincoln Center Theater has announced four productions to be produced in the Vivian Beaumont and Mitzi E. Newhouse Theaters during the 2013-2014 season: the world premiere ofDomesticated, a new play by Bruce Norris, featuring Laurie Metcalf, directed by Anna D. Shapiro beginning performances Thursday, October 10 in the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater; a new production of Shakespeare's Macbeth, featuring Ethan Hawke in the title role, directed by Jack O'Brien, beginning performances Thursday, October 24 in the Vivian Beaumont Theater; Act One, adapted and directed by James Lapine from the autobiography by Moss Hart, beginning performances Thursday, March 20 in the Beaumont; and the world premiere of The City of Conversation, a new play by Anthony Giardina, directed by Doug Hughes, beginning performances Thursday, April 10 in the Newhouse. In addition to these four productions, LCT3, Lincoln Center Theater's initiative to produce the work of new artists and to engage new audiences, will produce a season of three plays, to be announced, in the Claire Tow Theater.

Act One FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What productions of Act One have there been?
Act One has had 1 productions including Broadway which opened in 2014.
What Tony Awards has Act One been nominated for?
Act One has been nominated for Best Play, Best Costume Design of a Play for Jane Greenwood, Best Scenic Design of a Play for Beowulf Boritt, and Best Sound Design of a Play for Dan Moses Schreier.
What Tony Awards has Act One won?
Act One has won the Tony Awards for Best Costume Design of a Play for Jane Greenwood, Best Scenic Design of a Play for Beowulf Boritt, and Best Sound Design of a Play for Dan Moses Schreier.
What awards has Act One been nominated for?
Act One has been nominated for several awards including Outstanding Sound Design in a Play at the Drama Desk Awards for Dan Moses Schreier, Distinguished Performance Award at the Drama League Awards for Tony Shalhoub, Outstanding New Broadway Play at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Act One, and Outstanding Set Design (Play or Musical) at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Beowulf Boritt.

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