The Providence Players open the classic comedy The Front Page on April 6th for a three week 10 performance run ending April 21. Written by former reporters Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur in 1928, the play and story have been presented many times on stage and screen.  On Broadway alone, The Front Page has been produced no less than 6 times most recently in 2016  featuring Nathan Lane as Walter Burns, John Slattery as Hildy Johnson, John Goodman as Sheriff Hartman, Jefferson Mays as Bensinger, Holland Taylor as Mrs. Grant, Sherie Rene Scott as Mollie Malloy, Robert Morse as Silas Pinkus, and Christopher McDonald as Murphy.

More locally, Providence Players Director Michael Donahue has assembled an outstanding cast for OUR 20th anniversary production of this classic.

In this classic comedy set in the crowded 1920s Chicago Criminal Courts press room, managing editor Walter Burns fights to keep star reporter Hildy Johnson from breaking free from journalism to get married. Everything changes when there is a jailbreak and condemned convict Earl Williams falls into the reporter’s hands. Hildy’s daunting challenge now is to get Williams out of the building to a safe place for an interview before rival reporters or trigger-happy policemen discover him. The Front Page hilariously parodies Windy City corruption, politics and journalism and is loaded with fast paced hi-jinx, crisp dialog and sharp humor. The Providence Players continue their 20th anniversary season with this irresistible comedy of both stage and screen fame at the James Lee Community Center Theater in Falls Church.

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

 

The Cast of the Providence Players Production of The Front Page

 

Michael Bagwell (Bensinger) is ecstatic to be back at PPF where he last appeared as Emperor Joseph II in Amadeus. Other favorite roles include McNair in 1776 (MCP), Cecil B. DeMille in Sunset Boulevard (RCP), Harry the Horse in Guys and Dolls (MCP) and Caldwell B. Cladwell in Urinetown (DS). Undying gratitude to Michael for including me in this amazing cast, and to Liz, Amanda, Beth, the awesome production team, and the entire PPF family for always making me feel at home. 

 

John Coscia (Murphy, Set Design & Set Construction) is a founding member and current board member of the Providence Players.  He has appeared on this stage many times over the past 20 years and has been nominated for, and won, many WATCH awards for his acting, directing, set designs and set construction.  John directed the PPF 2014 production of Of Mice and Men and is thrilled to return to the stage.

 

 

 

Patrick David (McCue) is very happy to be back on stage working with such a talented cast and crew. Recent stage roles at PPF include Frank in Red Herring and Jean-Francois Millet in Is He Dead?  He and his wife recently co-designed the sets for Amadeus and To Kill a Mockingbird at PPF.  A big kiss and thank you to his bride for encouraging and supporting his stage adventures.

 

 

Susan d. Garvey (Mrs. Grant) is delighted to be back on the PPF stage under the direction of Michael Donahue.  Area credits include Calendar Girls (PPF), Deathtrap, Gutenberg! The Musical!, Flowers for Algernon, Life X 3, Wit, The Memory of Water, (NextStop Theatre/ESP), Twilight of the Golds, Working the Musical, Proposals, The Women, Harvest Moon (RCP), Children, The Dining Room (SCT), Equus (Taking Flight). Thanks to this very talented and hilarious cast and crew for all the support. Much love to Thom, Samantha, Christopher and Chelsea. 

Craig Geoffrion (The Mayor) This is Craig’s 17th season with PPF and his 19th appearance onstage. He was last seen as Big Daddy in The Glass Mendacity. Other acting credits include roles in Twelve Angry Men, Rumors, Of Mice and Men, Side Man, and You Can’t Take It With You. Craig has received two WATCH awards: set painting for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday and for the role of Beverly Carlton in The Man Who Came to Dinner. Many thanks go out to Michael, Beth, Liz…and to Debbie for putting up with yet another round of rehearsals, but the greatest thanks goes out to you, our wonderful audiences. 

Ward Kay (Policeman/Goon) is an award-winning playwright appearing in his first show that he didn’t write in nearly 20 years. This is his PPF debut.

 

 

 

 

 

Noor Krajah (Carl, a Deputy) is ecstatic to be back at it with the Providence Players in this season’s The Front Page. This marks his third production with PPF, alongside this season’s Moon Over Buffalo and The Phantom Tollbooth. He has recently completed several local short films and is currently working on another. He is grateful and delighted to be a part of PPF’s first show of 2018!

 

 

Rob Lee (Kruger) is an Arlington resident and this is not only his PPF debut but also his first community theatre production.  His daughter Stella was in The Phantom Tollbooth, and had such a great time she talked him into trying out!  They are hoping to be in something together in the future.  Other hobbies include amateur beekeeping, camping, and a new-found appreciation for learning the ukulele. 

 

 

Nick Manicone (Diamond Louis) This is Nick’s second PPF production; he was last seen supporting his daughter Sophia (as Scout) in PPF’s To Kill a Mockingbird. By day, Nick is a lawyer for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Thanks to Mike for the opportunity to play a named character with such a welcoming group, and to Becky, Sophia and Izzie for their support and love.

 

 

Chuck O’Toole (Hildy Johnson) was last seen as Paul in the PPF’s production of Moon Over Buffalo. By day, he manages a crack team of reporters and editors for the trade journal Tax Notes. Special thanks to Jayne for bringing him back from the dead, Mike for trusting him despite knowing better, Debra for showing him how to walk the long road, Ma’n’Pa for everything, and most of all Leah — the real Hildy — for being crazy in the best way.

 

Chris Persil (Mr. Pincus) is happy to be returning to PPF.  He was last seen as Mr. Gilmer in To Kill a Mockingbird.  He was also seen playing various roles in The 12 Plays of Christmas (PCP) in December 2016.   Some favorite past roles include John Merrick in The Elephant Man (SCT), Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (NY), and Benvolio in Romeo & Juliet (NY).  When he’s not acting, Chris is a mortgage loan officer for Freedom Bank in Fairfax.  Many thanks to his family for the love, encouragement and support.

 

David Ranowsky (Frank, a Deputy) is making his third PPF appearance, having played the Blind Magic Shopkeeper in Snow White and the Family Dwarf, and Nathan Radley, Link Dees, and a couple of the misguided townies in To Kill a Mockingbird.  In this Age of “Fake News,” most of which probably isn’t, David appreciates that our Director, Mike Donahue, has given him the opportunity to be on stage in this production that portrays the comic/tragic aspects of those who were the news, gathered the news, and published the news in Chicago of the ‘20s and ‘30s.

 

Jaclyn Robertson (Peggy Grant) is honored to be back on the PPF stage this season after appearing in Moon Over Buffalo as Eileen last fall. Jaclyn is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. She’s eternally grateful to her team & clients at FIT4MOM Falls Church Vienna Fairfax for allowing her to pursue her acting passion. Many thanks and kisses to her husband and kids for letting her play “dress-up” and “be silly” this season.

 

Steve Rosenthal (Schwartz) is happy to be making his debut with PPF.  He previously worked in Greenbelt three times last year. He played Abe Goldman in Beau Jest and Myron Selznick in A Visit from Scarface for Greenbelt Arts Center and Bishop Lopez in the 7^th Street Playhouse production of Teresa. Other recent roles include playing Dan, a war veteran, in the Washington Fringe production of Oral Histories, and Arthur Putnam in Bowie Community Theater’s production of An Act of the Imagination. Steve gives thanks as always to his wife Sue for her love and support. 

Scott Stofko (Woodenshoes Eichorn) is thrilled to be part of his second show with PPF, his first being last fall’s Moon Over Buffalo as Howard. He was last featured in TAP’s A Street Car Named Desire as Mitch. Scott has previously done shows with ACCT and voice over with LTA. Scott wishes to thank everyone involved with PPF for their continued support of the arts!

 

 

Bob Smith (Sheriff Hartman) has performed previously with PPF as Antonio in Twelfth Night. He served as Theatre Director at Fairfax High School for 16 years, Artistic Director, Board Member, and Director with Vpstart Crow Productions for 8 years, and continues his 30+ years of service on the Executive Board of Virginia Thespians. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from Virginia Commonwealth University, a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre from The University of Texas at Austin, and has directed more than 50 productions educationally, and professionally. Now retired, he’s looking for new theatrical opportunities.

Harry Sullivan (Policeman/Goon) is excited to be back on the PPF stage.  He last appeared as Jim Cunningham in PPF’s production of To Kill a Mockingbird.  He also recently played Lord Montague in Romeo and Juliet and Captain Smollett in Treasure Island, staged by Nameless Productions.  He played Captain Ingalson with a Japanese theater group.  In his day job as a Foreign Service Officer, he appeared on both French and Japanese television and pod casts.  He speaks Chinese, Japanese, French, and Spanish, and enjoys travel, theater, and rock concerts. 

 

Tina Thronson (Mrs. Schlosser) is a 20-year veteran of all things PPF. She has produced, directed, acted, served on set and costume crews, and even been a prompter. She thanks Mike for casting her as a battle-axe in this satire of the ruthless world of Chicago newspapers in the 1920s. As the daughter of a newspaperman, and niece of a broadcast journalist, she remains proud of their role in communicating the news to their fellow citizens in an honest and even-handed manner. 

 

Zach Todd (Wilson) is back for his sixth show with PPF. He most recently appeared on PPF’s productions of The Phantom Tollbooth and Amadeus.  He would like to thank friends and family for their support. Simul justus et peccator.

 

 

 

Eric Trumbull (Endicott) has performed previously with PPF as Richard in Moon Over Buffalo, and has appeared locally for Fauquier Community Theatre, Castaways Repertory Theatre, Prince William Little Theatre, Clifton Does Drama, Vpstart Crow Productions, and Lazy Susan Dinner Theatre. A retired professor of theatre/communication at NVCC-Woodbridge, where he directed or supervised two or three productions per year, he earned his PhD in Theatre and MA in Theatre/Communication at the University of Maryland, his BS in Theatre/Communication from Frostburg State University, and graduated many years ago from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NY. 

Renate Wallenberg (Jennie) is thrilled to be making her PPF debut!  Other favorite roles include Oliva in Mariela in the Desert (GALA Hispanic Theater); Tasha in Isn’t It Romantic (Silver Spring Stage); Dr. Bradley in The Man Who Came to Dinner and Mrs. Grouper in Long Island Sound, both with The Theater Lab; and Eurycleia in The Odyssey and Mrs. Kirby in You Can’t Take It With You, both with the former Foundry Players.  When not on stage, Renate teaches English as a Second Language to adults. 

 

Bobby Welsh (Earl Williams) is always happy to be performing with PPF. His previous PPF shows include Amadeus, Other Desert Cities, Of Mice and Men, Side Man, Auntie Mame, and Waiting in the Wings. He is delighted to be a part of such an incredible cast. He would like to thank his wife Danine and daughter Elise for supporting him and sharing his love of theater.

 

 

 

David Whitehead (Walter Burns) is a veteran member of PPF, having played many roles including Antonio Salieri in the 2016 production of Amadeus, which earned him a WATCH nomination for outstanding lead actor in a play.  He has also played Chris in All My Sons, George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life, Scrooge and Marley in (separate productions of) A Christmas Carol, Gabe in Dinner with Friends and Banjo in The Man Who Came to Dinner.  David thanks his very talented wife, Beth, for her love and support.

Andra Whitt (Mollie Malloy) is delighted to be up on stage again, especially as she has always wanted to play a hooker with a heart of gold. Favorite past roles at PPF include Brooke in Other Desert Cities, Claire in Rumors, Terry in Side Man, and Essie in You Can’t Take It With You. She has also enjoyed stage managing, stage crewing, set decorating, and propping. Much love and thanks to Jason, to Alan and Alda for their support, and to the cast, crew and design team for being awesome.

 

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Performance Dates and Times
Thursday, Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m.
April 6 – 21
Sunday Matinees 2:00 p.m
April 8 & 15

Ticket and  Venue Information:
Tickets $20 Adults $17 Students/Seniors
All Seating is Reserved
The James Lee Community Center Theater
2855 Annandale Road Falls Church VA

Order Online (No Fee): www.providenceplayers.org/tickets/ 
Reserve by Email: providenceplayerstickets@cox.net
Reserve by Phone: 703-425-6782