The John W. Engeman Theater at Northport has announced 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.
About the show: "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 Design Team includes: JONATHAN COLLINS, Scenic Design, who returns to the Engeman Theater after designing last season's The Sound of Music. His other recent credits include Divorce Party: The Musical; Now The Cats With Jeweled Claws at Cafe La Mama; and Greenwood at the New York Musical Theater Festival.
TRICIA BARSAMIAN, Costume Design, rejoins the John W. Engeman Theater after designing the costumes for Little Shop of Horrors and Fiddler on the Roof. Her other recent projects include Yank! A WWII Love Story at the York Theatre Company, Sistas: The Musical at the St. Luke's Theatre and The Mousetrap at The Alley Theatre.
MARTIN E. VREELAND, Lighting Design, credits at the John W. Engeman Theater include Crazy For You, Little Women and The Foreigner. Some of his other projects include Tryst at TheIrish Rep, The Road to Qatar at the York Theatre, Freed at 59E59 Theatres and Seeing Stars at St Clements/NYMF. He has also assisted on several Broadway productions including The Lion King and Swing.
CRAIG KAUFMAN, Sound Design, returns to the Engeman for his seventh production. His credits include Fiddler on the Roof, Run for Your Wife, Cabaret, Hairspray, Camelot and A Wonderful Life. His off-Broadway credits include Things To Ruin, Rewrite: The Musical and The Black Suits. Other recent credits include Sunday in the Park with George at Porchlight Theatre in Chicago; Bye Bye Birdie for the American Musical Theatre Project; Perez Hilton the Musical at The New York City Fringe Festival and The Encore Series; My Pal George, Mornings at Seven and Two Headed at the Berkshire Theatre Festival.
MARK ADAM RAMPMEYER, Hair and Wig Design; returns for his fifth season at the John W. Engeman Theater. Currently his work can be seen on Broadway in the new musical Lysistrata Jones. Recent Broadway credits include West Side Story and The Farnsworth Invention with Hank Azaria. Mark is also the Associate Artistic Director for the John W. Engeman Theater in addition to his design responsibilities.
The Casting Director is STEPHEN DeANGELIS who has been a member of the John W. Engeman Theater since its inception and has cast all of the main stage productions as well as the ongoing Broadway Concert Series. Stephen is on staff at Grey NYC having cast over 2,200 network television and radio commercials.
The Production Manager is MICHAEL J. LESLIE. The Production Stage Manager is ROBERT V. THURBER.
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.
