“You Can’t Take It With You” Opens This Weekend

Providence Players Celebrates 15^th Anniversary Season with opening of Kaufman and Hart Comedy Classic

“You Can’t Take It With You” – The comedy classic from The Providence Players. A brilliant, warm-hearted and critically–acclaimed comedy that is one of America’s best. Join Grandpa and his good-natured, though eccentric, family as they meet the stuffy and more conservative Kirbys – nothing but hilarity ensues.  This revival of PPF’s very first production is a Pulitzer Prize winner and tremendous fun for all ages!

Opens this weekend at The James Lee Community Center Theater 2855 Annandale Road, Falls Church.

$18 adults, $15 Students/Seniors. 703-425-6782.

Tickets online at www.providenceplayers.org and at the door. The Nov 3^rd performance will be sign language interpreted.

Performance Dates And Times

Thursday, Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m.
October 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, November 1, 2 & 3
Sunday Matinees 2:00 p.m. October 21 & 28

15th Anniversary Season – Our Best Yet! Season Tickets Available 

The Providence Players of Fairfax (PPF) proudly celebrates its fifteenth anniversary season in 2012–2013 with an exciting lineup of award winning productions beginning October 18^th with the Pulitzer Prize winning Kaufman and Hart comedy classic, “You Can’t Take It With You”. From humble beginnings as a group of parents who first banded together to mount the same Kaufman and Hart classic in1998 to raise money for a local elementary school PTA, the Providence Players has emerged as one of the region’s leading non-profit community theater companies, producing 4 main stage productions a year with more than 100 all volunteer member artists serving over 3,600 theater patrons each year. To celebrate its fifteenth anniversary season, PPF felt it only fitting to open it’s season with a reprise of its very first production (with some of the original actors and many new faces!) and follow it up with exciting new offerings.

PPF’s fifteenth anniversary season will be counted among company’s best ever. Following the classic award winning comedy, “You Can’t Take It With You” as the Fall production, the Players will present a special holiday production of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”. This production, a family holiday classic, is being produced in cooperation with the Young Hearts Foundation a group of amazing teens who raise funds to battle blood cancers and other diseases.  A portion of all proceeds from this production will be donated to Young Hearts Foundation in pursuit of their important mission.

PPF’s early spring production will be the 2000 Pulitzer Prize winning drama, “Dinner With Friends” a funny yet bittersweet look at the marriages of two couples who have been friends for years and the impact on both couples when one of those marriages goes sour. The New York Times called this multi-award winning work “A play for our time”. “Dinner with Friends” is not for young audiences. It contains mature themes and language. 

The final production of the season will be one of the oldest new comedy’s to ever hit the stage, the David Ives adapted Mark Twain comedy, “Is He Did?”.  Authored by Twain in 1898, this play was recently discovered by Twain scholar, Shelley Fisher Fishkin and adapted by one ofAmerica’s funniest contemporary playwrights, David Ives.  It has only recently hit the professional theater circuit to both critical acclaim and raucous laughter. 

 An award-winning company, PPF is proud to be a member of the Washington Area Theater Community Honors (WATCH) organization that adjudicates productions and presents annual awards recognizing artistic and technical excellence in Community Theater. Since becoming a member in 2004, PPF has been recognized with nearly fifty (50) WATCH nominations and awards for quality theatrical performance and production. Most recently, for the 2011 WATCH Season, the Providence Players were honored with eleven WATCH nominations for performance and production work, including two nominations for Best Play for PPF’s productions of The Shadow Box and Auntie Mame. In 2011, PPF’s The Shadow Box won the British Players’ Ruby Griffith award for Outstanding Achievement in Non-Musical (“Best Play”). And in 2008-2009, PPF’s production of All My Sons won the Ruby Griffith Award for All Around Production Excellence, their top award.

PPF also became a member and grant recipient of the Arts Council of Fairfax County, and has been honored by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (sponsored by now Board Chairman, Linda Smyth and then Board Chairman, now Congressman, Gerry Connolly) for artistic excellence and community involvement.

 PPF is also committed to the diverse community it serves. Several years ago, PPF launched the Theater Community Inclusion Project, a community outreach initiative that strives to increase participation among new audiences, particularly youth and underserved populations by providing free tickets to those who cannot afford the price of admission, a special free teacher and student preview performance for each production, theater workshops for youth, and scholarships to college-bound students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to theater arts.

PPF is the resident company and community partner at The James Lee Community Center in Fairfax County, just outside the City of Falls Church. The 2012-2013 season marks the company’s 9^th year at the intimate and comfortable 224 seat James Lee Community Center Theater. The Players are honored to have had a hand in working with Fairfax County in the design of the theater and company members are active and involved in many non-PPF theatrical activities at the theater and in the community center.

 PPF is a group of committed, volunteer member artists. The organization prides itself as a welcoming, inclusive “big tent” organization – big enough to include first timers to theatrical endeavors and those with significant theater experience.

The Season in Summary:

You Can’t Take It With You

By George S. Kaufman & Moss Hart

Directed by Chip Gertzog
Produced by Janet Bartelmay

A brilliant, warm-hearted and critically–acclaimed comedy that is one ofAmerica’s best. Join Grandpa and his good-natured, though eccentric, family as they meet the stuffy and more conservative Kirbys – nothing but hilarity ensues.  This revival of PPF’s very first production is a Pulitzer Prize winner and tremendous fun for all ages!

 Performance Dates And Times

Thursday, Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m.
October 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, November 1, 2 & 3
Sunday Matinees 2:00 p.m. October 21 & 28

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

 By Barbara Johnson
 

Directed by Beth Whitehead
Produced by Prince McLaughlin and David Whitehead

The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world; they lie, steal and cheat. Now they have taken over the churches’ annual Christmas pageant!  The entire town has gathered in anticipation, waiting to see the Herdmans ruin Christmas – or will they?  This funny, heartwarming, holiday tale has become a classic: and good for the entire family! 

Co-Produced by Providence Players and The Young Hearts

This special production of a holiday treat will benefit the work of The Young Hearts, a group of amazing teens who raise funds to battle blood cancers and other diseases.  A portion of all proceeds from this production will be donated to Young Hearts Foundation in pursuit of their important mission.

Performance Dates And Times

Thursday, Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m.
December 7, 8, 13, 14, 15
Saturday & Sunday Matinees 2:00 p.m.
December 8, 9, 15, 16

Dinner with Friends

 By Donald Margulies

Directed by Tina Thronson
Produced byChip Gertzog

Full of humor, warmth, and wisdom, this 2000 Pulitzer Prize winning drama is a funny yet bittersweet look at the marriages of two couples who have been friends for years and the impact on both couples when one of those marriages goes sour. Margulies’ elegant, breezy and witty dialog nourishes the audience as do his poignant insights which are deeply affecting. The New York Times called this multi-award winning work “A play for our time”. Dinner with Friends is not for young audiences. It contains mature themes and language. 

Performance Dates And Times

Thursday, Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m.
April 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20
Sunday Matinees 2:00 p.m. April 7 & 14

Is He Dead?

Adapted By David Ives
Based on the play by Mark Twain

Directed by Beth Hughes-Brown
Produced by Smitty Connolly

A hilarious comedy that focuses on the real-life painter, Jean-Francois Millet.  Though brilliant, he is in dept to a ruthless moneylender, and can’t sell a painting to save his life (literally).  His cohort of bohemian friends convince him to stage his own death to help boost sales.  Authored by Twain in 1898, this play was recently discovered by Shelley Fisher Fishkin and updated by David Ives. 

 Performance Dates And Times

Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m.
May 31, June 1, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15
Sunday Matinees 2:00 p.m. June 2 & 9

Ticket Information:

Reserved seat season and single show tickets may be ordered online at www.providenceplayers.org by emailing providenceplayerstickets@cox.net , by phone at 703-425-6782 or at the door. A Three play (the Holiday show is not part of the season ticket package) Season Ticket Package Costs Adults $45 and Students/Seniors 62+ $32. Single Show tickets cost Adults: $18 and Students/Seniors 62+: $15.

Open seating, general admission tickets for the holiday show will cost $15 for all theatergoers. 

by Barbara Johnson
Directed by Beth Gilles-Whitehead

Play Synopsis: The Herdman’s were absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world. They lied and stole and smoked cigars (even the girls) and talked dirty and hit little kids and cussed their teachers and took the name of the Lord in vain and set fire to Fred Shoemaker’s old broken-down tool-house.  This year’s Christmas pageant has a brand new director. The wild and pushy Herdman’s head to church because of the donuts and stumble into the casting session for the pageant.  Same-old Christmas pageant meets the enthusiastic, uninformed Herdman’s.

Co-Produced by Providence Players and The Young Hearts

A portion of proceeds will go to support Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and its mission to find a cure for blood cancers.

Performance Dates And Times

Thursday, Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m.
December 7, 8, 13, 14, 15
Saturday & Sunday Matinees 2:00 p.m.
December 8, 9, 15, 16

Audition information and instructions

Dates:  Auditions will take place on:

• Tuesday, August 21, 7-9:30pm
• Thursday, August 23, 7-9:30pm
• Monday, August 27, 7-9:30pm
• Wednesday, August 29, 7-9:30pm
• Call backs, September 5, 7-9:30pm (if necessary)

Place:  James Lee Community Center, 2855 Annandale Road, Falls Church, VA 22042 (look for signs to audition room)

Special Request from Director:  PLEASE bring your schedule conflicts that you are aware of.

Please RSVP to providenceplayers@cox.net with the dates you plan on auditioning.

How we work: You are encouraged to plan to come to auditions on more than one of the audition evenings. This is not a requirement. Most PPF auditions have actors up and down to read multiple times in multiple combinations and scenes. Most actors find this fun. As space allows, you will be able to watch all the auditions. You may be asked to go into the hallway with audition partners and work a bit on a scene. We will do our best to get you up multiple times reading for parts you are interested in. You will also be asked to read for other parts you may not be auditioning for. The Providence Players strives to make our productions open to interested and engaged actors & actresses, regardless of their level of experience. We try and make our auditions as relaxing and fun as possible.

Audition process: Auditions will consist of readings from the script – No monologue required. Sides for the audition process will be supplied at auditions.

Audition form: Resumes and headshots will be accepted, but are not required. An audition form is required and will be available at the audition.

Membership: The Providence Players of Fairfax is a membership organization. Membership is not required to audition. If cast, actors in addition to production team members will be asked to become members of the Providence Players ($10) for the season (if they are not already).

RSVP: Please send us an RSVP if you plan to audition to providenceplayers@cox.net (or email us any questions you may have).

Other Information from the Director

Rehearsals will begin in third week of October in a second location then at the James Lee in November.

Character/Role breakdown  20-30 can be in the cast depending on turnout and readings.

• The Herdman’s–6 characters (7-15ish):  Ralph, Imogene, Leroy, Claude, Ollie, Gladys (tough, sassy, crafty, combative, ragged, , bossy, wiry and feisty)
• Bradley Family–4 roles:  Grace (Mom), Bob (Dad), Beth, narrator  (12-14ish), Charlie (8-11ish)
• 3 Teen girls (12-14ish):   Alice (prim and prissy) Maxine, Doris. 
• 3-4 Boys ages (8-12ish):  Elmer Hopkins (Reverend’s son 11-14) Hobie. 
• 3 -5 Girls ages (5-10ish):  Beverly, Shirley, Juanita, baby angels, small girls. 
• 2 characters:  Firefighters.
• 1 person 40-55ish: Reverend Hopkins.  
• 5 Mature women (35-60 plus)  Mrs. Armstrong, Mrs. Slocum, Mrs.Clark, Mrs. Clausing, Mrs. McCarthy.

Director Chip Gertzog is pleased to announce the cast for the first production of our 15th Anniversary season, Kaufman and Hart’s heartwarming You Can’t Take It With You.  Chip would like to thank all the talented actors who auditioned for this production and made his task of casting the show a most pleasant challenge.

The Cast includes:

PENNY, Sara Bennet
GRANDPA, John Coscia
ALICE, Katie Brown
TONY KIRBY, Chris Schwartz
MR. KIRBY, Patrick David
KOLENKHOF, Craig Geoffrion
ESSIE, Andra Whitt
PAUL SYCAMORE, Mike Daze
ED, Jimmy Gertzog
MR. DE PINNA, Joe Gargiulo
RHEBA, Elizbeth Pfeifer
DONALD, Bill Vander Clute
HENDERSON (TAX MAN), Harry Kantrovich
MRS. KIRBY, Susan Kaplan
OLGA-GRAND DUCHESS, Ruth Neaveill
GAY WELLINGTON, Beth Hughes-Brown

Washington Area Theatre Community Honors (WATCH) announced nominations for 2011.  PPF received eleven (11) nominations, including not one, but two (2) nominations for Outstanding Play – Auntie Mame and Shadow Box.  We are extremely proud of those nominated and everyone involved in these productions that warranted this type of recognition.

For individual performances, those nominated include:

• Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play – Beth Whitehead as “Auntie Mame Dennis” – Auntie Mame
• Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play – Ruth Neaveill as “Vera Charles” – Auntie Mame

For production team members, those nominated include:

• Outstanding Costume Design in a Play – Robbie Snow & Christian D. Faulkner – Auntie Mame
• Outstanding Hair Design in a Play – Beth Harrison and George Smith – Auntie Mame (AWARDED!)
• Outstanding Set Design in a Play – Chip Gertzog & John Coscia – Shadow Box
• Outstanding Set Design in a Play – John Coscia, Patrick David & Ingrid Helvig David – Auntie Mame
• Outstanding Set Decoration in a Play – Ingrid Helvig David – Auntie Mame
• Outstanding Set Construction in a Play – John Coscia & Chip Gertzog – Shadow Box
• Outstanding Set Construction in a Play – John Coscia, Patrick David & Ingrid Helvig David – Auntie Mame

For overall production values, those plays nominated include:

• Outstanding Play – Auntie Mame
• Outstanding Play – Shadow Box

In addition, other PPF members were nominated for their efforts with other community theaters in the region:

• Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play – Robin Zerbe as “Irma Grese” – Angel: A Nightmare in Two Acts at Port City Playhouse
• Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play – Lolita-Marie as “Mattie Cheeks” – No Niggers, No Jews, No Dogs at Port City Playhouse
• Outstanding Cameo in a Play – Robin Zerbe as “Crystal Allen” – The Women at Prince William Little Theatre
• Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical – Mary Ayala-Bush – Frankenstein at Taking Flight Theatre Company

The award ceremony will take place Sunday, March 11, at The Birchmere in Alexandria.   Our congratulations to all the nominees.

To see all of PPF’s previous nominations and awards, please visit our awards page.

By Moss Heart and George S. Kaufman

Directed by Chip Gertzog
Produced By Janet Bartelmay

A brilliant, warm-hearted and critically acclaimed, Pulitzer Prize winning, comedy that is one ofAmerica’s best.  Join Grandpa and his good-natured, though eccentric family, as they meet the stuffy and more conservative Kirbys – nothing but hilarity ensues.

Nine Men – Seven Women – All Roles Open

The Providence Players of Fairfax is a non-profit community theater troupe. All participation is on a volunteer, non-compensated basis.

NEW: AUDITION SIDES CAN BE DOWNLOADED

Download a PDF of This Audition Announcement

PERFORMANCE DATES AND TIMES

Preview: October 18 7:00pm Curtain

Evening Performances: Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays; 7:30pm Curtain
October 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, November 1, 2 & 3

Matinees: Sundays; 2:00pm curtain
October 21 & 28

AUDITION DATES

Monday June 18, 7-9:15pm
Wednesday June 27, 7-9:30pm
Thursday June 28, 7-9:30pm
Call-Backs (if needed): July 2, 7-9:00pm

LOCATION

The James Lee Community Center Theater
2855 Annandale Road
Falls Church, VA 22042
(Look For Signs To Audition Room)

AUDITION INFORMATION/INSTRUCTIONS

PLEASE RSVP to providenceplayers@cox.net with the dates you plan on auditioning.

HOW WE WORK: You are encouraged to plan to come to auditions on more than one of the audition evenings. This is not a requirement. Most PPF auditions have actors up and down to read multiple times in multiple combinations and scenes. Most actors find this fun. As space allows, you will be able to watch all the auditions. You may be asked to go into the hallway with audition partners and work a bit on a scene. We will do our best to get you up multiple times reading for parts you are interested in. You will also be asked to read for other parts you may not be auditioning for. The Providence Players strives to make our productions open to interested and engaged actors & actresses, regardless of their level of experience. We try and make our auditions as relaxing and fun as possible.

AUDITION PROCESS: Auditions will consist of readings from the script – No monologue required.

AUDITION SIDES: Sides for the audition process will be supplied at auditions and will be listed and posted in .pdf format on our website: www.providenceplayers.org the weekend of June 16th and 17th. It will be advantageous to review the sides for the character(s) you are interested in. It is not expected that these be committed to memory.

AUDITION FORM: Resumes and headshots will be accepted, but are not required. Please ALSO complete the attached PPF You Can’t Take It With You Audition Form and bring it with you to the audition. This will also be available on our website.

MEMBERSHIP: The Providence Players of Fairfax is a membership organization. Membership is not required to audition. If cast, actors in addition to production team members will be asked to become members of the Providence Players ($10) for the season (if they are not already).

RSVP: Please send us an RSVP if you plan to audition to providenceplayers@cox.net  (or email us any questions you may have).

REHEARSAL SCHEDULE

A copy of the preliminary rehearsal schedule is included with this announcement and at auditions. In general, over the summer, there will be 2 full cast readings of the play and some selected scene study and character work scheduled based on actor availability. The schedule for these will be finalized a week or two after auditions. There will be off stage rehearsals beginning the week after Labor Day. Actors will be expected to be largely off-book by Sept. 18th. Stage rehearsals will begin on Sept. 18th and continue on an intense basis through the preview performance on October 18th. Unless indicated otherwise, all rehearsals will happen at the James Lee Community Center. Rehearsals will be held in the evenings roughly from 7:00 to 9:45pm.

Please come to auditions prepared to list any availability conflicts over this time period.

Character Summary – 9 men, 7 women – Each A Gem

You Can’t take It With You Characters – The Women (7 Roles)

Penelope Sycamore (Early/Mid 50s) – Lead
Usually goes by Penny. She is the mother of Essie and Alice, wife of Paul, and daughter of Martin. A loving and caring mother and wife, Penny is as eccentric as the other members of her family. Penny was an enthusiastic painter but gave up this hobby for writing when a typewriter was delivered to the house by mistake eight years earlier. Charmingly blunt, she causes some embarrassment during the Kirbys’ visit, first by calling Mrs. Kirby’s beloved spirtualism “a fake,” and then by proposing a word association game and asking what everyone associates with the words “sex,” “bathroom,” and “lust.” Penny’s enjoyment of life and direct speech are in marked contrast to Mrs. Kirby’s seeming discontent and reserved acceptance of social conventions.

Essie Carmichael (Mid-20s – early 30s) – Featured
Wife of Ed, daughter of Penny and Paul Sycamore, Granddaughter of Martin, sister of Alice. She is childish. As a hobby she makes candy that Ed sells. Essie dreams of being a ballerina. She has spent 8 years studying with Boris Kolenkhov, but is a terrible dancer. She dances her way through the play, improvising steps to her husband Ed’s xylophone music. Like the other Sycamores, Essie is both happily absorbed in tasks which amuse her and wholly undisturbed by the eccentricities of her family.

Rheba (Ageless) – Supporting
The maid and cook to the Sycamore family. She is treated almost like a part of the family. She is dating Donald. In the words of Mrs. Sycamore, “The two of them are really cute together”

Alice Sycamore (Early to Mid 20s) – Featured
Alice Sycamore is Penny and Paul’s attractive younger daughter (Granddaughter of Martin, sister of Essie). The twenty−two−year−old Alice has, according to the stage directions, “escaped the tinge of mild insanity” that pervades her relatives, but her “devotion and love for them are plainly apparent. She falls in love with Tony Kirby. She works for Kirby and company, and is rather embarrassed by the eccentricities of her family when she has Tony and his parents at her house.

Gay Wellington (most likely played over 40) – Cameo/Supporting
Described in the stage directions as “an actress, nymphomaniac, and a terrible souse,” comes to the Sycamore house to discuss a script with Penny but then passes out on the couch. She occasionally awakens, usually just in time to contribute to the chaos that erupts following the Kirbys’ unexpected visit.

Miriam Kirby (Mid 50s – Early 60s) – Supporting
Wife of Mr. Kirby, mother of Tony. She is an extremely prim and proper woman the conservative female equivelent of her businessman husband. She, too, is shocked by the unconventional Vanderhof−Sycamores. Her hobby is spiritualism and she is affronted when Penny says spiritualism is “a fake”. She seems to reveal she is dissatisfied with her marriage when in a word game she associates “honeymoon” with “dull” and almost admits that Mr. Kirby talks about Wall Street even during sex.

The Grand Duchess Olga Katrina (mid 40s – mid 50s) – Supporting
She was one of the Grand Duchesses of Russia before the Revolution. Since then she has been forced to flee to America where she has found work as a waitress in Childs Restaurant. The rest of her family has had a similar fate, such as her Uncle Sergei, the Grand Duke, who is now an elevator man. She loves to cook.

You Can’t take It With You Characters – The Men (9 Roles)

Grandpa – Martin Vanderhof (Early/Mid 70s) – Lead
Father of Penny, Grandfather to Alice and Essie. Head of the household. He is an eccentric but wise and happy older man who has never paid his income tax because he doesn’t believe in it, as he feels that the government wouldn’t know what to do with the money if he paid. One day thirty−five years ago he gave up his successful business career, since, as he explains to Mr. Kolenkhov, it struck him that he “wasn’t having any fun,” So he “just relaxed” and has “been a happy man ever since.” He now has “time enough for everything” and, as he tells Mr. Kirby, he no longer has “six hours of things I have to do every day before I get one hour to do what I like in.” He goes to circuses, commencements, throws darts, and collects stamps. He provides the philosophical center of the play, explaining the folly of seeking material wealth at the expense of personal fulfillment, and asking only, as he says while saying grace before dinner, that their family be allowed “to go along and be happy in [their] own sort of way.”

Paul Sycamore (Late 50s – Early 60s) – Supporting
Father of Essie and Alice, husband of Penny, Son-in-law of Martin. He is a tinkerer who makes fireworks the basement with the help of his assistant Mr. De Pinna. Quiet, charming, and mild−mannered, he never loses his composure, even when the fireworks he makes in the basement unexpectedly explode. Like his wife and father−in−law, Paul possesses what the stage directions call “a kind of youthful air.”

Mr. De Pinna (“Middle Aged”) – Supporting
Described in the stage directions as a “bald−headed little man with a serious manner,” the middle−aged Mr. De Pinna arrived at the Vanderhof residence eight years ago to deliver ice and ended up moving in. He shows how open and accepting the Vanderhof−Sycamore family can be: everyone is obviously welcome in this house. Mr. De Pinna has clearly taken to this family’s way of life. He helps Paul make firecrackers, poses in Roman costume for Penny’s painting of a discus thrower, and remains undisturbed by the chaotic household.

Ed Carmichael (Age 28-35 +/-) – Supporting
Stage directions describe him as a “nondescript young man” in his thirties. Loyal and devoted husband of Essie, son-in-law of Paul and Penny. He is a xylophone player, and distributes Essie’s candies. Ed is an amateur printer who prints anything that sounds good to him such as some of the writings of the revolutionary Russian Communist Leon Trotsky: “God Is the State; the State is God.” He also prints up dinner menus for his family. He is mistakenly a person of interest to the FBI who fancies him an insurrectionist attempting to undermine the United States government.

Donald (Ageless) – Supporting
Boyfriend to Rheba, who serves as volunteer handyman and errand runner for the Sycamores. He is on welfare.

Wilbur C. Henderson (40 – 60) – Cameo/Supporting
An employee of the IRS He comes to collect the tax money owed by Grandpa, and can’t understand why the latter won’t pay income tax.

Tony Kirby (Mid/Late 20s) – Featured
The stage directions tell us he is a “very nice young man” who has recently attended Yale and Cambridge. He has fallen in love with Alice Sycamore and wants to marry her. Tony is a Vice President of Kirby & Co., his father’s business. He purposely brings his parents to the Vanderhof−Sycamore house on the wrong night because, as he says to his father, “I wanted you to see a real family as they really were A family that loved and understood each other.” Determined to do something that he wants to do, Tony rejects his father’s business and embraces the Vanderhofs philosophy of seeking happiness over wealth.

Boris Kolenkhov (mid 40s – mid 50s) – Supporting
A Russia who escaped to America shortly before the Russian Revolution. He is very concerned with world politics, and the deterioration of his homeland. He is the ballet instructor of Essie, aware that she is untalented at dancing, and ever the opportunist, he keeps working with her, conveniently, at meal times. He is opinionated and often loudly declares that something “stinks”! Has wrestling match with Mr. Kirby.

Anthony P. Kirby (Mid 50s – Early 60s) – Large Supporting
Husband of Mrs. Kirby, father of Tony. He is a very proper man who is president of Kirby and Co… a successful Wall Street businessman…and secretly despises his job. He is a traditional authority figure who represents the conventional worldview the Vanderhof−Sycamores reject. Conservative and repressed, he has perpetual indigestion and tells his wife he thinks “lust is not a human emotion.” He is initially shocked by Alice’s family and says Grandpa Vanderhof s idea of doing only what makes you happy is a “a very dangerous philosophy … it’s un−American.” His hobby is raising expensive orchids. He is also a member of the Harvard Society, the Union Club, the National Geographic Society, and the Racquet Club. He lives life “the right way” and is miserable for it. He undergoes the most major transformation in the play.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Chip Gertzog is a devout community theater junkie. You Can’t Take it With You will be Chips’s 42nd production over the past 15 years. Chip has served PPF in virtually all production and non-production capacities. He has directed eight shows for PPF (Sorry Wrong Number (One Act) (2001-2002) George Washington Slept Here (2002 -2003), Heaven Can Wait – with Barbara Gertzog (2004-2005), The Time of Your Life (2006-2007), Saturday Sunday Monday (2007-2008), Rehearsal for Murder (2008-2009), Harvey (2009-2010), He and has done lighting, sound, and/or technical direction on more than 20 productions. Over the last year, Chip has done tech design work on the PPF productions of Auntie Mame, Side Man, and Sleuth, as well as the Sterling Playmakers’ production of The Wizard of Oz. He is an eleven time WATCH award nominee and three time award winner.

“From the audience’s first gasp….to the “group exhale” when its twisted thrill ride ends with a start, “Sleuth” keeps even the veteran theatergoer second-guessing.”

Providence Players Sleuth  Final Performances

 Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 PM

“With a mind boggling, cork-screw twisting crime caper production of Sleuth, Providence Players of Fairfax ends its successful 2011-2012 season with a bang….Mike Donahue and Derek Bradley are intriguing and diabolically delicious master-class actors who expertly lead the audience through the twists and turns of this complicated thriller.”

“Nothing is as it seems” – Tony Award Winning Mystery

Review: Providence Players of Fairfax’s production of Sleuth showcases Donahue and Bradley at the top of their craft: http://www.dcmetrotheaterarts.com/2012/05/28/sleuth-at-providence-players-of-fairfax-by-queen-charlotte-lottie-yard1/

Review: Providence Players At Top Of Their Game With Sleuth:  http://tis4theatre.wordpress.com/2012/05/22/providence-players-at-top-of-their-game-with-sleuth/

Falls Church News Press: Veteran Providence Player to Direct Mystery-Thriller ‘Sleuth’: http://www.fcnp.com/arts/11827-veteran-providence-player-to-direct-mystery-thriller-sleuth.html

Connection Newspapers: “Traps and Mystery Galore”: http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2012/may/10/traps-and-mystery-galore-sleuth-arrives/

The Providence Players close their fourteenth season with the Tony Award winning mystery Sleuth.

Written by Anthony Shaffer, Sleuth is the quintessential “whodunit” classic which one critic called just “clean and bloody fun.” Popular mystery writer Andrew Wyke lives in a world that reflects his obsession with games and game-playing – a world of plot twists and intricate strategies. In discovering his wife’s lover, Milo Tindle, Andrew devises a devious game to humiliate him. But even the best laid plans can go astray when the police arrive and a new game begins – a game where revenge is devised and murder is plotted. The ultimate game of cat-and-mouse that will keep you guessing when imagination ends and reality begins – a tremendous mystery thriller.

Winner of the 1971 Tony Award and DramaCritics Circle Award for Best Play.

Final Three Performances

Thursday, Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m. May  31, June 1 & 2

Want Really Great Seats?  – Check Out Our Remaining Thursday Performance on May 31^st

Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for seniors and youth. Tickets may ordered online at www.providenceplayers.org, by email at providenceplayerstickets@cox.net or by calling the Providence Players Ticket line at 703-425-6782 and leaving a message. Tickets will also be available at the door. The James Lee Community Center is located at 2855 Annandale Road, Fall Church, VA 22042.

The Providence Players production of Sleuth is directed by PPF veteran Director, Beth Hughes-Brown (Play On!, Moon Over Buffalo, Witness for the Prosecution, Cash on Delivery, The Skin of Our Teeth, Arsenic and Old Lace) The production features an outstanding cast;

Andrew Wyke:  Mike Donahue
Milo Tindle:  Derek Bradley
Inspector Doppler:  Frank Gilles
Constable Higgs:  Raymond Janer
Det. Sergeant Tarrant:  Michael McGinty

[Mike] “Donahue is on target with a heady, relentless performance.”

 

“From the audience’s first gasp….to the “group exhale” when its twisted thrill ride ends with a start, “Sleuth” keeps even the veteran theatergoer second-guessing.”

Providence Players Sleuth Performances Fri – Sun

 This Memorial Day Weekend

Only Six Performances Remain

“Nothing is as it seems” – Tony Award Winning Mystery

Review: Providence Players At Top Of Their Game With Sleuth:  http://tis4theatre.wordpress.com/2012/05/22/providence-players-at-top-of-their-game-with-sleuth/

Falls Church News Press: Veteran Providence Player to Direct Mystery-Thriller ‘Sleuth’: http://www.fcnp.com/arts/11827-veteran-providence-player-to-direct-mystery-thriller-sleuth.html

Connection Newspapers: “Traps and Mystery Galore”: http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2012/may/10/traps-and-mystery-galore-sleuth-arrives/

The Providence Players close their fourteenth season with the Tony Award winning mystery Sleuth.

Written by Anthony Shaffer, Sleuth is the quintessential “whodunit” classic which one critic called just “clean and bloody fun.” Popular mystery writer Andrew Wyke lives in a world that reflects his obsession with games and game-playing – a world of plot twists and intricate strategies. In discovering his wife’s lover, Milo Tindle, Andrew devises a devious game to humiliate him. But even the best laid plans can go astray when the police arrive and a new game begins – a game where revenge is devised and murder is plotted. The ultimate game of cat-and-mouse that will keep you guessing when imagination ends and reality begins – a tremendous mystery thriller.

Winner of the 1971 Tony Award and DramaCritics Circle Award for Best Play.

Remaining Performance Dates and Times

Thursday, Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m. May 25, 26, 31, June 1 & 2

Final Sunday Matinee: 2:00 p.m. May 27

Busy Weekends? – Remaining Thursday Performance is on May 31^st

 
Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for seniors and youth. Tickets may ordered online at www.providenceplayers.org, by email at providenceplayerstickets@cox.net or by calling the Providence Players Ticket line at 703-425-6782 and leaving a message. Tickets will also be available at the door. The James Lee Community Center is located at 2855 Annandale Road, Fall Church, VA 22042.

The Providence Players production of Sleuth is directed by PPF veteran Director, Beth Hughes-Brown (Play On!, Moon Over Buffalo, Witness for the Prosecution, Cash on Delivery, The Skin of Our Teeth, Arsenic and Old Lace) The production features an outstanding cast;

Andrew Wyke:  Mike Donahue
Milo Tindle:  Derek Bradley
Inspector Doppler:  Frank Gilles
Constable Higgs:  Raymond Janer
Det. Sergeant Tarrant:  Michael McGinty

[Mike] “Donahue is on target with a heady, relentless performance.”