Upcoming productions: 2008
Two One-Act Plays
February 7-10, 2008
Scooter Thomas Makes It to the Top of the World
by Peter Parnell
Dennis receives a call from his mother telling him that his best friend from boyhood, Scooter Thomas, has died. Shaken, Dennis packs for the funeral and recalls their relationship in brief, poignant scenes, during which he plays both himself and other friends from his past, some of whom went to college or got married. Scooter dropped out of life, however, and took a job in the Post Office. He talked of going off to California, but gradual disenchantment overcame him as his hopes remained unfulfilled. Ultimately, the play looks at the choices we make when youthful expectations meet the realities of adulthood. An exceptionally original and affecting "memory play" by one of our theatre's most promising young writers, the play is a lively yet touching examination of a relationship between friends, a relationship which is gradually altered when they begin to follow different paths.
The Neighbors
by Zona Gale
In a delightful and touching comedy with bold characters taken from small town life, a friendless child falls into the care of the neighbors.
Harp Players Theatre Group
presents
Confessions of a Dirty Blonde
by Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore
March 2008
Get the boxer shorts, wigs and size ten pumps! The masters of modern farce are back with an outrageously zany comedy. The year is 1962. Living legend Lillian Lamour, a Mae West-like sex siren, comes out of seclusion for a one night tribute at Carnegie Hall. While recreating her famous 1933 Time Magazine cover, a lion bites her world famous derriere exposing, among other things, that she is a he. Now Hollywood's best kept secret will be revealed unless Lillian's press agent can put a lid on things. Neither the gangster crooner ex-boyfriend nor Lillian's wallflower daughter is aware of the truth, but the hotel doctor knows and can't convince anyone else. This screwball comedy in the tradition of the Marx Brothers is a scream.
A Year With Frog and Toad
Book by Willie Reale
Lyrics by Willie Reale
Music by Robert Reale
Based on the Books by Arnold Lobel
June 2008
Arnold Lobel's well-loved characters hop from the page to the stage in Robert and Willie Reale's musical 'A Year With Frog And Toad.' Conceived by Mr. Lobel's daughter, Adrianne Lobel, 'A Year With Frog And Toad' remains true to the spirit of the original stories as it follows two great friends, the cheerful and popular Frog and the rather grumpy Toad through four fun-filled seasons. Waking from hibernation in the spring, they proceed to plant gardens, swim, rake leaves and go sledding, learning life lessons along the way, including a most important one about friendship and rejoicing in the attributes that make each of us different and special. 'A Year With Frog And Toad' is inventive, exuberant and totally enchanting.
The Sunshine Boys
by Neil Simon
October 2008
Al Lewis and Willy Clark once formed a vaudevillian team known as "Lewis and Clark." Over the course of forty-odd years, however, they not only grew to hate each other but never spoke to each other off-stage throughout the final year of their act. Clark, who was not ready for retirement, resented Lewis for breaking up the act when he opted to leave show business. It is now 1972, and ABC 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.