Neil Simon's Comedy The Sunshine Boys at The John W. Engeman Theater at Northport

Feb. 7, 2012 - PRLog -- The John W. Engeman Theater at Northport is proud to announce the cast and creative team for the Neil Simon comedy, The Sunshine Boys.  Previews begin on Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.; with the official opening on Saturday, February 4 at 8:00 p.m. and running through March 25.  

This laugh-out-loud comedy follows two faded vaudeville legends, Lewis and Clark, as they reunite to perform their old act one last time.  The only problem is they can't stand each other. Will these two crotchety comedians get over the issues that had ruined their partnership before the big show?  This nostalgic comedy by Neil Simon is packed with the slapstick comedy sketches that embody the golden days of vaudeville.

The Sunshine Boys is produced by RICHARD T. DOLCE, the theater's Producing Artistic Director.  

BT McNICHOLL, the Director, won the 2003 Australian "Tony" Award (the Helpmann) for his direction of Cabaret, after having been the Associate Director of the Broadway production; he went on to stage record-setting runs of the musical in Paris and Madrid.  Other international credits include premieres of Billy Elliot in Asia and The Producers in Europe.  He has been associated with a dozen Broadway plays and musicals with directors Mike Nichols, Sam Mendes, Rob Marshall, David Hare, James Lapine, Jerry Zaks and Stephen Daldry.  He is the BMI Award-winning lyricist of "The IT Girl" and is proudly part of MGM On Stage.  Regionally, he has staged successful productions for the Goodspeed Opera House, Walnut Street Theater and the John W. Engeman Theater.    
The Cast of THE SUNSHINE BOYS features: LEWIS J. STADLEN as Willie Clark.  He created the role of Ben Silverman in the original 1973 production of The Sunshine Boys starring Jack Albertson and Sam Levene.  He appeared on Broadway last season in The People in the Picture.  He has performed 761 times as Max Bialystock in The Producers, on Broadway and in the national tour.  Lewis made his Broadway debut as Groucho Marx in Minnie’s Boys, for which he won the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Theatre World Awards.  Other Broadway shows include:  Voltaire, Dr. Pangloss, etc. in Candide (Tony nomination), Manolo in The Female Odd Couple, Milt in Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Banjo in The Man Who Came to Dinner, and Mickey in 45 Seconds From Broadway.  National tours: Nathan Detroit in Guys & Dolls, Ali Hakim in Oklahoma!, Mendel in Fiddler on the Roof, and Harry in The Time of Your Life.  Other favorite roles: Applegate in Damn Yankees, Mr. McAfee in Bye Bye Birdie, Trigorin in The Seagull, Vandergelder in The Matchmaker and Hello, Dolly!, Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, Azdak in The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Potofski in The Pillowman, Glougower in Once In A Lifetime, Givola in Arturo Ui, and the title roles in Semmelweiss, S.J. Pereleman In Person, and The Miser.  Some of his better films include Serpico, The Verdict, To Be Or Not To Be and In & Out.  He has been seen on television in “Smash,” “Damages,” “The Sopranos,” “Law & Order,” “Benson,” “The Equalizer,” and “Omnibus.”  He has directed Laughter on the 23rd Floor (National company), Enter Laughing, Dying City, The Philistines, Seagull (The Musical), The Crucible, Ian Talks – Louie Walks.  

CHIP ZIEN as Al Lewis created the roles of the Baker in Sondheim/Lapine’s award-winning Into the Woods (L.A. Drama-Logue Award, Outer Critics nomination) and Mendel in William Finn’s highly acclaimed Falsettos. Other Broadway credits: The People in the Picture, The Country Girl, Les Miserables (Thenardier in the revival), Grand Hotel, The Boys from Syracuse, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, All Over Town directed by Dustin Hoffman and The Suicide with Derek Jacobi. Select Off-Broadway and other credits: March of the Falsettos and Falsettoland, La Jolla reworking of Merrily We Roll Along (L.A. Drama-Logue Award), Isn’t It Romantic (Drama Desk Nomination), Hot L Baltimore (both in NY and LA’s Mark Taper Forum), A New Brain (Drama Desk Nomination). Select TV credits: series regular on “The Caroline Rhea Show”, “Almost Perfect” (CBS), “Deadline” (NBC), and “Reggie” (ABC).  He has also been seen on “Law & Order” as Attorney Cromwell, “Ugly Betty”, “The Good Wife”, “Rescue Me”, and “CSI”. Select film credits include: the voice of the infamous “Howard the Duck”, “The Siege”, “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Undead”, “United 93”, “Snake Eyes”, “Grace Quigley” with Katherine Hepburn. Writing credits include his one-man show, Death in Ashtabula and a musical revue with Deborah Abramson, et al. Travels with My Discontent (both developed and performed at Barrington Stage Company). His latest project, The History of War, premiered at NYMF 2010.

FRANK VLASTNIK as Ben Silverman whose Broadway credits include: The Snail with the Mail in A Year With Frog and Toad; Sweet Smell of Success; and Big. His Off-Broadway credits: Sondheim's Saturday Night; I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change.  His regional credits include: Kander & Ebb's All About Us at Westport Playhouse, McCarter Theatre, Capital Repertory, Yale Repertory, St. Louis Muny. Some TV credits include: "Law & Order" and "The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr."  His film credits include: "The Image." He is the Co-author of Broadway Musicals and Sitcoms, both published by Black Dog & Leventhal.

GAYLE SAMUELS as the Nurse, most recently appeared in the national tour of Little House On The Prairie starring Melissa Gilbert. Gayle was also was nominated for Best Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Billie Holiday in Lady Day At Emerson’s Bar & Grill. Her Broadway credits include: Sunset Boulevard, Grind, Dancin’, and Dreamgirls.

CHRISTINA CALPH as the Sketch Nurse, is proud to make her debut performance at the John W. Engeman Theater.  She can currently be seen on screen in the “Arthur” (Warner Brothers) remake alongside Russell Brand and Academy Award winner Helen Mirren. She next appeared in the film, “Tower Heist” (Universal) starring Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy.  Her New York theater credits include Victor/Victoria (Off-Broadway) and Fine Funny & Female Sketch Comedy Show (Off-Broadway). Her TV credits include “Rescue Me”, “Whitest Kids U Know”, “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”, and “Onion News Network”. Christina is also the director, writer & producer of the comedic web-series, “XXX: A Bad Girl’s Ball.”

EVAN TEICH as Eddie he was last seen as Bert in A Wonderful Life at the John W. Engeman Theater. His credits include: Red Masquerade (Staged Reading); Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Sneezy) at Gateway Playhouse; Assassins (John Wilkes Booth) at Smithtown Performing Arts; TOMMY (Capt. Walker), The Drowsy Chaperone (Aldolpho), Doubt (Father Flynn), the Long Island Premier of Jewtopia (Chris), The Graduate (Benjamin), A Christmas Carol (Nephew Fred/Future) and The Producers (Franz Leibkind) at Theatre Three.

SCOTT SAPERSTEIN as the Patient he was last seen at the John W. Engeman Theater as the Rabbi in Fiddler On The Roof.  

THE SUNSHINE BOYS will play the following performance schedule: Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m.; Thursdays at 8:00 p.m.; Fridays at 8:00 p.m.; Saturdays at 3:00 p.m. and at 8:00 p.m.; Sundays at 2:00 p.m. and at 7:00 p.m.

IN ADDITION, there will be a special matinee on: Wednesday, March 21 at 2:00pm.

Tickets are ON SALE and are $50.  Tickets may be purchased by calling (631) 261-2900, by visiting www.engemantheater.com, or at the Engeman Theater Box Office at 250 Main Street, Northport. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted.  To purchase Season Tickets and Gift Cards please contact the Box Office directly.  For group rates or to host an event or fundraiser at the John W. Engeman Theater, please contact the Group Sales Department at 631-261-2900.

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The John W. Engeman Theater at Northport is Long Island's only year round professional theater company, casting our actors from the Broadway talent pool. From curb to curtain, we have made it our business to provide affordable, quality theater in an elegant one-of-a-kind location with outstanding facilities and extraordinary service. The renovated Theater offers stadium-style seating, state-of-the-art lighting and sound, a full orchestra pit, and a classic wood-paneled piano lounge with full bar.

For a complete show schedule and more information contact the theater directly at 631-261-2900, visit the box office at 250 Main Street, Northport or visit www.EngemanTheater.com