THE SUNSHINE BOYS
Production Team:
Producer - Lou Ursone
Director - Lester Colodny
Production Design - Peter Barbieri, Jr.
Stage Managers - Pat McCoy, Brent McKinley
Costume Design - Megan Latte Ormond
Lighting & Sound Operator - Joe Efferen
Poster Design - Bob Callahan
Props Master/ Sound Design -John Zimmerman
Hair Designs - Cindy Schulte
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF: FOTOSBYFAILLA.COM
Written by America's great comic master, Neil Simon, the play focuses on aging Al Lewis and Willie Clark, a one-time vaudevillian team known as "Lewis and Clark" who, over the course of forty-odd years, not only grew to hate each other but never spoke to each other off-stage throughout the final year of their act. The stubborn Clark, who was not ready for retirement, resented the wiser Lewis for breaking up the act when he opted to leave show business. It is now 1972 and CBS is inviting the team to reunite for a special on the history of comedy, with the pair representing the vaudeville era at its best. Clark is convinced by his nephew Ben to revive one of the old routines one last time. Much of the humor is derived from efforts to get the two cantankerous actors into the same room for a rehearsal, their differences of opinion once they reunite, and their shenanigans on the actual broadcast.
Neil Simon was inspired by two venerable vaudeville teams. The longevity of "Lewis and Clark" was inspired by Smith and Dale who, unlike their theatrical counterparts, were inseparable lifelong friends. The undercurrent of backstage hostility between "Lewis and Clark" was inspired by the team of Gallagher and Shean, who were successful professionally but argumentative personally.
Cast:
(Names in red denote Curtain Call debut.)
Willie Clark Fred Tisch
Ben Silverman Andrew Morris
Al Lewis Daniel Fitzgerald
Eddie Jim Muthersbaugh
Burlesque Nurse Kimberly Lantz
Registered Nurse Jacqueline Carlsen
