Religious comedy opens Westfield Playhouse’s 15th season
For the past 30 years Danny Russel has been a professional actor. Russel moved to Indiana from Chicago and has toured around as famous Hoosier residents Abraham Lincoln and James Whitcomb Riley. Now he is taking his skills to teach others the craft as he directs.
“It never occurred to me to do a community theater. It was a chance to teach and direct. Acting is illuminating text,” he said. “It has to be something important, everybody wins that way.”
Main Street Productions President John Sampson saw Russel direct at Carmel Community Playhouse in 2012 and knew he wanted him to direct a show at Westfield Playhouse and has been trying to coordinate it ever since.
“I told John, ‘If I can choose the show, yes, I’m in.’ It was a long two-year journey from that initial show,” Russel said. “I never knew about this place. It is a nice little theater.”
“Main Street Productions/Westfield Playhouse is honored to have award-winning director Danny Russel working with us,” said Sampson. “Having quality directors, like Danny, bringing new ideas to the productions creates the art of theater and gives a greater experience to the audience.”
“God’s Favorite” will be performed Sept. 26 and 27 and Oct. 3 through 5 and 10 through 12. Russel said the show is a scintillating dark comedy from Neil Simon that failed on Broadway and is rarely performed, which is appealing for him.
“Audiences are already sick to death of old hats like ‘The Odd Couple,’ but with this piece, Simon delivers some of his most profound and delicious humor undercut by a pervasive sense of despair,” Russel said. “I’ve appeared in professional regional productions of it, was blessed to stage this particular play at Lutheran High School in 2004, and jumped at the chance to direct it again featuring adult actors after Westfield Playhouse’s gracious invitation.”
“God’s Favorite” is about successful Long Island businessman Joe Benjamin, a modern-day “Job” with a demanding wife, ungrateful children and wisecracking household employees. Just when it seems things couldn’t get any worse, he is visited by Sidney Lipton, a messenger from God (and compulsive film buff) with a mission: test Joe’s faith and report back to “the Boss.”
“While examining their own faith, my hope is that audiences will find redemption and joy from the humanity on display in this modern-day retelling of Job and conclude that ‘all Scripture is inspired by God’ (2 Timothy 3:16),” Russel said.
Russel said his actors were recruited especially for the project as they exuded necessary charisma and matched a specific age and physical type dictated by the author.
“There’s certainly a vibrant sense of community in working with familiar talent; with honesty and efficiency, we needed to create that strong family dynamic in a curtailed rehearsal period,” he said.
“The Book of Job was one of the readings at my wedding. It’s not common – talking about pain and suffering – but I have a soft spot for that,” said actor Steven Marsh, who portrays Sidney Lipton. “Since it was a Neil Simon play I was excited to try out for it.”
Like many other cast members and Russel, this is Marsh’s first time at Westfield Playhouse.
“It’s a neat theater. I like the fact it’s an old church. It’s the most intimate theater that I’ve acted in. If I kicked off a show it could hurt someone,” he said. “I can talk in a whisper and know people can still hear me. I’m real excited to be here.”
Carmel resident Tom Doman previously worked with Russel in 2012 and again at this year’s Indy Fringe Fest.
“This was a bigger part but I gave it a shot,” Doman said. “This is another opportunity to get out, grow and get some exposure.
Doman is making his Westfield Playhouse debut on stage but is familiar with the location. His daughter, Katie, performed in “The Diary of Anne Frank” earlier this year. In “God’s Favorite,” Doman portrays Joe Benjamin.
“I’m basically on stage the whole time. The hardest part is trying to keep it straight in your head,” he said.
Doman recommends attending the show because of its comedy and cast.
“I think the cast is very talented,” he said. “It’s going to be a good show and the audience will not be here for three hours.”
Other members of “God’s Favorite” cast include: Ben Austin (Ben Benjamin), Addison D. Ahrendts (Sarah Benjamin), Joyce Pendleton (Rose Benjamin), Stephen E. Foxworthy (David Benjamin), Pam Young (Mady) and Scott Prill (Morris).
Playhouse celebrates crystal anniversary
This is the 15th year Main Street Productions has called Westfield Playhouse, 1836 Ind. 32 West, home. MSP President John Sampson said the organization began in 1992 and used schools, churches and restaurants as performance venues before finding its permanent location.
“We bought the old church for $9,800 and it had four feet of standing water in the basement,” he said.
When MSP first started, Sampson just only two or three shows were performed a year. This season includes six shows including a youth production, Voices From the Past, Westfield in Lights and outreach shows.
“People love this place,” he said. “It’s a very nice anniversary.”
Sampson said a play selection committee picks the season’s offerings. This year’s musical is “The Civil War,” which was the first show performed at Westfield Playhouse.
“We have at least one drama and one comedy. The others are a combination of one or the other (like romantic comedy). We also have a musical every two years,” he said. “Because we have the diversity of shows we offer different reasons to attend the show for audiences.”
The playhouse will receive a facelift thanks to a $5,000 matching façade grant from the City of Westfield. Sampson said projects include new siding and painting and more landscaping to be done in October. Future goals include building a handicap ramp. Water and sewer connections are expected in two years.
“The city won’t have it out here until then,” Sampson said. “We’ll be adding to the building and move the restrooms inside.”
2014-2015 season
God’s Favorite by Neil Simon
Directed by Danny Russel
Sept. 26 and 27 and Oct. 3 through 5 and 10 through 12
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
Directed by Bobbi Van Howe
Nov. 28 and 29 and Dec. 5 through 7 and 12 through 14.
Home Games by Tom Ziegler
Directed by Cheryl Fesmire
Jan. 30 and 31 and Feb. 6 through 8 and 13 through 15.
The Civil War by Frank Wildhorn, Gregory Boyd and Jack Murphy
Directed by Nathon Gober and Jan Jamison
April 3, 4, 10 through 12 and 17through 19.
Deathtrap by Ira Levin
Directed by Pam Kingsley
May 29 and 30 and June 5 through 7 and 12 through 14.
Peter Pan and Wendy book by J.M. Barrie, adapted by Doug Rand
Youth Production
Directed by Bobbi Van Howe
July 29 through 31 and Aug. 1 and 2.
Play tickets are $12 and $10 for seniors and musical shows are $15 and $13 for seniors. For reservations, call 896-2707. For more information, visit www.westfieldplayhouse.org.
