James Dean's Star Shines 50 Years Later - backstage.com

[LangSyneFilms]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 1:48pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/l.cfm?id=74540

The James Dean Festival is now running in Dean's hometown of Marion, Indiana. Big doings there, and for James Dean fans it's a top stop if you are on the road and anywhere near Indianapolis this summer. See shows at the James Dean Memorial Theatre.

Other Dean news is that Ned Stuart of The Producers Group - the multi-Tony Award winning legit musical theatre division of Lang Syne Films - produced a cold reading of Leno/Letterman joke writer Rudy Cecera's bright and brand new play "Broken Boulevard" in which James Dean is a pricipal character.

"Broken Boulevard" was directed by Richard Harden, whose expert helming and an exceptional cast of actors made the evening a five-star event.
Tori Davis starred as 'Doris' the actress sent on a journey through limbo where she and her temperament are confronted by
Diane Tyler as 'The Waitress with Tray' -
Stephanie Van Vlack as 'The Girl with Beer' -
Jagger Kaye as 'The Man with Broom' -
Art Brown as 'The Man with Hat' -
(Art's own porkpie fedora played the part of 'The Hat')
and then Doris meets the people who bring her to her senses:
'Norma Jean' played by Tori Davis,
'JD' (James Dean) played by Rudi Cecera,
'Bogie' played by Sandy Pesner,
and the man who tells her how to get out of limbo:
'The King' (who else but Elvis) expertly done by Tom Detrik, swivel hips and all.

Also on the bill that night at Nola Studios was a new play by Marlene Shyer: "Beethoven's Hair" also directed by Richard Harden with Art Brown minus his hat as 'Burton,' Jagger Kaye as 'Andrew,' Stepahnie Van Vlack as 'Hannah,' and Diane Tyler as 'Elise.'

"Broken Boulevard" is a full length one-set play now released for production and is highly recommended for theatre of all levels, and will do extremely well in regional, intimate settings of 499 and smaller, and in schoool and college theatre.

Rudy Cerera is represented by Archer King, Ltd. Mr. King just happens to be the agent who discovered James Dean and brought him to New York.

The Producers Group has brought many shows to Broadway including "Art," "Anything Goes," "Grind," the Broadway revival of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," "The Play What I Wrote," "Eating Raoul," "Amy's View," and many, many more.

Seanna O'Haran,
Production Assistant

[feinstein9]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 4:36pm

i don't think it works when people try to perform as other famous people, people that have a deffinate personality and energy that can't be copied or impersonated. elvis, marlyn, bogart, and St. Jimmy? you can't play that part. the same goes for the upcoming Lennon. and i'm not just saying that b/c i'm a beatle snob. who can really *be* john lennon? anyway both shows sound interesting in their own way, and thanks for bringing the former to my attention, lang.
party on