VPW Cast & Crew—Break legs! Jaime and Patrina Hurtado, Owners
Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.
Inspiration Studios
1500 S. 73rd Stree
t
West Allis, WI 53214
414 587-3474
Directed by
Michael Pocaro
7:30pm
April 17-April 18
April 23-April 24
May 1-May 2
2:00pm
May 3 Matinee
By Ken Ludwig
Village Playhouse presents
A Nun, a Lawyer and a Gorilla walk into a bar. The bartender says, “Hey, what is this? Some kind of joke?”. Yeah, this is some kind of joke! And I like a good joke, don’t you? You know Director’s Notes are usually intended to be somehow socially relevant, whetting the appetite for provocation, insight and thoughtful entertainment. That’s a pretty high order for “Moon Over Buffalo”.
Now that’s not to say that good comedy can’t be provoca-tive. There are at least as many types of comedy as there are Shades of Grey. Consider the socially relevant comedy of “MASH”, or the stigma-busting, in your face comedy of “All in the Family” and all its spin-offs. But this is …vaudeville. This is slapstick. This production has been brazenly plagiarized from all my personal favorites; Laurel and Hardy, Abbot and Costello, The Three Stooges and The Marx Brothers.
The beauty of comedies like “Moon Over Buffalo” is they’re built upon the human weakness we all know and celebrate in our own lives. They’re the shifty cousin, the overbearing uncle, the feisty nephew, the bumbling suitor, and most of all – the Self and all its adorable shortcomings!
It has been my intention to bring this comedy of mistaken iden-tity, drunkenness, infidelity, and slamming doors to its knees with deftly performed double takes, slow burns, and pratfalls. I personally enjoy self-effacing, physical comedy over nearly all others. The beauty of self-effacing comedy is, even if you get it wrong you just laugh and say, “See?”
I hope you get a belly laugh or two from tonight’s produc-tion. Laughing is, after all, a sign of social healing and holistic wellness. It’s known to be common to all races, all ages, and all genders. How’s that for social relevancy!!??
Michael (Paco) Pocaro
From the director...
Opportunity Knocks!
Join us for the
remaining shows of our
2014-2015 Season
April 17-May 3
June 5-21
August 7-23
Traveling Children’s Show
June 28—Summerfest
Village Playhouse Inspiration Studios
1500 S. 73rd Street, West Allis
Production Crew
Producer Rosie Peterson
Director Michael “Paco” Pocaro
Assistant Director Jamee Stefanski
Stage Manager Michelle Miller
Technical Director Larry Beckley
Set Design Sandra Wyss
Set Construction Larry Beckley
Art Carter
Manny Cotto
Erico Ortiz
Casey Paszciewicz
Rosie Peterson
Sandra Wyss
Light Design Casey Pasciewicz
Lights Victoria Diaz
Sound Casey Pasciewicz
Set Crew Morgan Cotto
Jarid Cotto
Christine Altenbach
Props Marilou Davido
Fight Choreography Gene Schuldt
Costumes Michelle Miller
Rosie Peterson
Hair Victoria Diaz
House Manager Rita Bates
Publicity Erico Ortiz
Rosie Peterson
Photography Audwin Short
Graphics/Flyer Design Derek Jacobs
Banner/Program Design Erico Ortiz
Special Thanks Sunset Playhouse
Tom Zuehlke
Please pardon any omissions due to printing deadlines
KEN LUDWIG has had 6 shows on Broadway and 7 in London’s West End, and his plays and musicals have been performed in more than 30 countries in over 20 languages. His first play on Broadway, Lend Me A Tenor, which the Washington Post called "one of the classic comedies of the 20th century,” won two Tony Awards and was nomi-nated for seven. He has also won two Laurence Olivier Awards (England’s highest theater honor), the Charles MacArthur Award, two Helen Hayes Awards, the Edgar Award for Best Mystery from The
Mystery Writers of America, the SETC Distinguished Career Award, and the Edwin Forrest Award for Services to the Ameri-can Theatre. His plays have been commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Bristol Old Vic. He has written 22 plays and musicals, including Crazy For You (5 years on Broad-way and the West End, Tony and Olivier Award Winner for Best Musical), Moon Over Buffalo (Broadway and West End), The Ad-ventures of Tom Sawyer (Broadway), Treasure Island(West End), Twentieth Century (Broadway), Leading Ladies, Shake-speare in Hollywood, The Game’s Afoot, The Fox on the Fair-way, The Three Musketeers and The Beaux’ Stratagem. His most recent plays includeBaskerville, A Comedy of Tenors, and Tiny Tim’s Christmas Carol (2015 Helen Hayes Award nominee for Outstanding Play). His newest book, How To Teach Your Chil-dren Shakespeare, (winner of the Falstaff Award for Best Shake-speare Book of 2014) is published by Random House. Over the years, his plays and musicals have starred Alec Baldwin, Carol Burnett, Lynn Redgrave, Mickey Rooney, John Astin, Hal Hol-brook, Dixie Carter, Otto Schenck,Tony Shalhoub, Anne Heche, Joan Collins, and Kristin Bell. His work is published by the Yale Review, and he is a Sallie B. Goodman Fellow of the McCarter Theatre, Princeton. He holds degrees from Harvard, where he studied music with Leonard Bernstein, Haverford College and Cambridge University. For more information, please visit www.kenludwig.com.
About the playwright….
Inspiration Studios www.inspirationstudiosgallery.com
Calendar of Events
Mar 7-Apr 28 “Angst”
Kevin Batcher art exhibit
Apr 17-18 Moon Over Buffalo
—a Village Playhouse production
Apr 20-21 Auditions: VPW 30th Annual One Act Festival
7pm @ Inspiration Studios
—an Inspiration Studios production
Apr 22 Sound Check Studio Recital
7pm @ Inspiration Studios
Apr 24-25 Moon Over Buffalo
—Village Playhouse production
Apr 26-27-28 A Play About Parker
—Off Book Players production
April 30-May 30 “Through the Mirrors of Time”
Maria Dolores Parks (Ecuador) art exhibit
Opening Reception—April 30, 5-9pm
May 1-2-3 Moon Over Buffalo
—Village Playhouse production
May 8-9 The Recovering Pessimist
—Inspiration Studios production
May 15-16-17 The Recovering Pessimist
—Inspiration Studios production
June 1-30 “WA-a-la-Art” exhibit from WAWM school staff
Opening Reception—June 7
during West Allis a la Carte
Visit our website for more information regarding upcoming events
www.inspirationstudiosgallery.com
Jamee Stefanski (Assistant Director) This is Jamee’s first show
as an assistant director. Her directorial debut was Time Doesn’t
Heal All Wounds in VPW’s One Act Festival last June. Prior to
that she could be found on stage having done shows at Sunset
Playhouse, Lake Country Playhouse, Waukesha Civic and
here at VPW. Her favorite roles are in the Ensemble in Miss Sai-
gon at Waukesha Civic and Roz in Moon Over Buffalo at LCP.
She is currently a Domestic Engineer and lives in West Allis with
her husband Tracy and her 3 beautiful girls, Samantha, Paige and
Lexi.
Sandra Wyss (Set Design) enjoys being involved in all aspects of
theater, backstage and acting onstage. She was the set designer
and artistic director for All in the Timing, The Mouse That
Roared, Return of the Pink Panther, School House Rock Live.
Sandy has enjoyed scenic painting for many main stage and chil-
dren’s shows for Village Playhouse and Brookfield Players. She
has been Props Designer, Assistant Stage Manager and actress
with Over Our Head Players, Racine. When not involved in the
theater, Sandy displays paintings in art fairs and galleries in the
Milwaukee area. She has had opportunities in indie films, movies
and tv shows in Chicago and Milwaukee area.
Robert A. Zimmerman (George Hay) is making his Village Play-
house debut, and is very grateful to be here. His love for local
theatre extends over 40* years, including writing, directing, set
design, performing and sweeping the stage. Some favorite acting
roles include Max Bialystock in The Producers, Tevye in Fiddler
on the Roof, Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, Peron in Evita,
Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Noah in Two by Two,
Fagin in Oliver!, Applegate in Damn Yankees, Sherlock Holmes
in The Hound of the Baskervilles, Selsdon in Noises Off, Albert
Soady, Jr. in Escanaba In Da Moonlight, Michael in I Do, I Do,
and Harold Hill in “The Music Man.” Bob is not only couched in
mortified disbelief of that number, but in unabashed, vehement
denial.
began performing in 1979. He has since appeared in or directed
hundreds of productions, workshops, videos and (gasp) commer-
cials.
Melissa Pol (Eileen) is delighted to be in her first production at
the Village Playhouse. An expert at running on and off stage, she
thought that this would be the perfect character for her! Other
credits include Abby in Stuck (Theatre Unchained), Meg in Lit-
tle Women (Old World Wisconsin), Mrs. Bedwin in Oliver!
(UW-Waukesha), and Andrea in Once On This Island
(Waukesha Civic Theatre). When not acting or singing, Melissa
enjoys marketing, graphic design, planning events, photography,
and yoga. Phew! Melissa would like to thank her husband, her
“theatre family”, and her actual family for their support.
Gene Schuldt (Fight Director) A Chicago native, Gene is a 1976
graduate of the Goodman School of Drama. Gene has staged
fight scenes all over the Midwest, and while in Chicago, taught
stage combat at the Theatre School of DePaul as well as the Vic-
tory Gardens Theatre Training Center.
Meet The Players (continued)
by Ken Ludwig
Moon Over Buffalo centers on
George and Charlotte Hay, fading
stars of the 1950's. At the moment,
they’re playing Private Lives and
Cyrano De Bergerac in rep in Buf-
falo, New York with 5 actors. On the brink of a disastrous split
-up caused by George’s dalliance with a young ingénue, they
receive word that they might just have one last shot at stardom:
Frank Capra is coming to town to see their matinee, and if likes
what he sees, he might cast them in his movie remake of The
Scarlet Pimpernel. Unfortunately for George and Charlotte,
everything that could go wrong does go wrong, abetted by a
visit from their daughter’s clueless fiancé and hilarious uncer-
tainty about which play they’re actually performing, caused by
Charlotte’s deaf old stage-manager mother who hates every
bone in George’s body.
Directed by Michael Pocaro
Cast of Characters
George Hay Bob Zimmerman Charlotte Hay Donna Daniels Rosalind Angela Bolmes Ethel Lucy Hilgendorf Paul Jim Donaldson Howard Rolando Kahn Eileen Melissa Pol Richard Bill Hitt
Moon Over Buffalo is presented by special arrangement with
Samuel French, Inc.
Larry Beckley (Technical Director) wants everyone to sit back,
relax, and enjoy the product of a lot of very talented people. He
would like to thank all the hands that helped to create this elabo-
rate, yet simple set, especially Casey.
Angela Bolmes (Rosalind Hay) is proud to hold a theatre degree
from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and happy to be per-
forming with VPW once again. She was last seen as Maggie in
Tennessee Williams' Cat On A Hot Tin Roof. She would like to
thank Paco for this opportunity and her family, pugs and partner
in crime for their endless support and cuddles.
Art Carter (Set Construction) has performed in many theatre pro-
ductions throughout the Milwaukee area. He has produced sev-
eral VPW shows and has helped with set construction on many as
well. Art is proud of the work done to create this set.
Donna Daniels (Charlotte Hay) is very excited to make her VPW
debut in Moon Over Buffalo! Donna was last seen as Clelia in
The Nerd, Miss Casewell in The Mousetrap and Chelsey in On
Golden Pond, all at Sunset Playhouse. Donna has performed
with many area theatres including Waukesha Civic Theatre,
Racine Theatre Guild, Boulevard Ensemble, Milwaukee
Chamber Theatre and The Milwaukee Rep. Donna would like
to thank her husband, Tom, and daughters, Grace and Sophie, for
all of their love and support. Special thanks to Michael Pocaro for
this opportunity.
Jim Donaldson (Paul) is excited to once again be working with
the Village Playhouse. Likewise, he is even more excited to once
again be working with the highly insightful and brilliant Michael
Pocaro. A huge thanks to his supportive parents and to his Stage
Manager. Thanks for being so patient, Jamee.
Lucy Hilgendorf (Ethel) is thrilled to be back at VPW and per-
forming in their new theatre space after getting her start on the
stage with VPW in Best Christmas Pageant Ever followed by
Meet The Players... Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Between Cat and Moon Over Buffalo, her
only on-stage experience was in Inherit The Wind at the Sunset
Playhouse.
Bill Hitt (Richard Maynard) is making his VPW debut with this
production. He is a veteran of the stage, however, appearing
most recently as Old Timer in Soapy’s Christmas Wish at Muk-
wonago Village Players. His other recent credits include Jacob
in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Charlie
in On Golden Pond at the Sunset Playhouse. Other favorite roles
include Lazar Wolf in Fiddler On The Roof, Bob Cratchet in A
Christmas Carol and Prosecutor Gilmore in To Kill A Mocking-
bird. He will also be seen in Legal Threat, a film to be released
in 2015. Bill makes his home in Richfield with his beautiful wife,
Michele.
Rolando Kahn (Howard) is thrilled to be back for a second show
with the Village Playhouse. His previous projects include All In
The Timing, After Breakfast Before Bed, and MULTICO. He
would like to thank friends and family for their support.
Rosie Peterson (Producer) is proud to have worked with such an
experienced cast and a very ingenious director. Rosie has been
with The Village Playhouse since 1977. She has volunteered to
do a wide variety of jobs including acting and singing, which is
why she and all of us volunteer for community theatre. She
hopes you truly enjoy this production. She would like to dedicate
this work to her sister Caroline, who passed away in October
2013.
Michael [Paco] Pocaro (Director) is happy to undertake this de-
lightful and raucous script as his fourth directorial for Village
Playhouse. He last directed and appeared as Big Daddy in the
VPW production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. His theater activities
span more than twenty years in countless Milwaukee theaters. A
Navy Veteran, Paco grew up in Southern California where he
Larry Beckley (Technical Director) wants everyone to sit back,
relax, and enjoy the product of a lot of very talented people. He
would like to thank all the hands that helped to create this elabo-
rate, yet simple set, especially Casey.
Angela Bolmes (Rosalind Hay) is proud to hold a theatre degree
from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and happy to be per-
forming with VPW once again. She was last seen as Maggie in
Tennessee Williams' Cat On A Hot Tin Roof. She would like to
thank Paco for this opportunity and her family, pugs and partner
in crime for their endless support and cuddles.
Art Carter (Set Construction) has performed in many theatre pro-
ductions throughout the Milwaukee area. He has produced sev-
eral VPW shows and has helped with set construction on many as
well. Art is proud of the work done to create this set.
Donna Daniels (Charlotte Hay) is very excited to make her VPW
debut in Moon Over Buffalo! Donna was last seen as Clelia in
The Nerd, Miss Casewell in The Mousetrap and Chelsey in On
Golden Pond, all at Sunset Playhouse. Donna has performed
with many area theatres including Waukesha Civic Theatre,
Racine Theatre Guild, Boulevard Ensemble, Milwaukee
Chamber Theatre and The Milwaukee Rep. Donna would like
to thank her husband, Tom, and daughters, Grace and Sophie, for
all of their love and support. Special thanks to Michael Pocaro for
this opportunity.
Jim Donaldson (Paul) is excited to once again be working with
the Village Playhouse. Likewise, he is even more excited to once
again be working with the highly insightful and brilliant Michael
Pocaro. A huge thanks to his supportive parents and to his Stage
Manager. Thanks for being so patient, Jamee.
Lucy Hilgendorf (Ethel) is thrilled to be back at VPW and per-
forming in their new theatre space after getting her start on the
stage with VPW in Best Christmas Pageant Ever followed by
Meet The Players... Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Between Cat and Moon Over Buffalo, her
only on-stage experience was in Inherit The Wind at the Sunset
Playhouse.
Bill Hitt (Richard Maynard) is making his VPW debut with this
production. He is a veteran of the stage, however, appearing
most recently as Old Timer in Soapy’s Christmas Wish at Muk-
wonago Village Players. His other recent credits include Jacob
in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Charlie
in On Golden Pond at the Sunset Playhouse. Other favorite roles
include Lazar Wolf in Fiddler On The Roof, Bob Cratchet in A
Christmas Carol and Prosecutor Gilmore in To Kill A Mocking-
bird. He will also be seen in Legal Threat, a film to be released
in 2015. Bill makes his home in Richfield with his beautiful wife,
Michele.
Rolando Kahn (Howard) is thrilled to be back for a second show
with the Village Playhouse. His previous projects include All In
The Timing, After Breakfast Before Bed, and MULTICO. He
would like to thank friends and family for their support.
Rosie Peterson (Producer) is proud to have worked with such an
experienced cast and a very ingenious director. Rosie has been
with The Village Playhouse since 1977. She has volunteered to
do a wide variety of jobs including acting and singing, which is
why she and all of us volunteer for community theatre. She
hopes you truly enjoy this production. She would like to dedicate
this work to her sister Caroline, who passed away in October
2013.
Michael [Paco] Pocaro (Director) is happy to undertake this de-
lightful and raucous script as his fourth directorial for Village
Playhouse. He last directed and appeared as Big Daddy in the
VPW production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. His theater activities
span more than twenty years in countless Milwaukee theaters. A
Navy Veteran, Paco grew up in Southern California where he
began performing in 1979. He has since appeared in or directed
hundreds of productions, workshops, videos and (gasp) commer-
cials.
Melissa Pol (Eileen) is delighted to be in her first production at
the Village Playhouse. An expert at running on and off stage, she
thought that this would be the perfect character for her! Other
credits include Abby in Stuck (Theatre Unchained), Meg in Lit-
tle Women (Old World Wisconsin), Mrs. Bedwin in Oliver!
(UW-Waukesha), and Andrea in Once On This Island
(Waukesha Civic Theatre). When not acting or singing, Melissa
enjoys marketing, graphic design, planning events, photography,
and yoga. Phew! Melissa would like to thank her husband, her
“theatre family”, and her actual family for their support.
Gene Schuldt (Fight Director) A Chicago native, Gene is a 1976
graduate of the Goodman School of Drama. Gene has staged
fight scenes all over the Midwest, and while in Chicago, taught
stage combat at the Theatre School of DePaul as well as the Vic-
tory Gardens Theatre Training Center.
Meet The Players (continued)
by Ken Ludwig
Moon Over Buffalo centers on
George and Charlotte Hay, fading
stars of the 1950's. At the moment,
they’re playing Private Lives and
Cyrano De Bergerac in rep in Buf-
falo, New York with 5 actors. On the brink of a disastrous split
-up caused by George’s dalliance with a young ingénue, they
receive word that they might just have one last shot at stardom:
Frank Capra is coming to town to see their matinee, and if likes
what he sees, he might cast them in his movie remake of The
Scarlet Pimpernel. Unfortunately for George and Charlotte,
everything that could go wrong does go wrong, abetted by a
visit from their daughter’s clueless fiancé and hilarious uncer-
tainty about which play they’re actually performing, caused by
Charlotte’s deaf old stage-manager mother who hates every
bone in George’s body.
Directed by Michael Pocaro
Cast of Characters
George Hay Bob Zimmerman Charlotte Hay Donna Daniels Rosalind Angela Bolmes Ethel Lucy Hilgendorf Paul Jim Donaldson Howard Rolando Kahn Eileen Melissa Pol Richard Bill Hitt
Moon Over Buffalo is presented by special arrangement with
Samuel French, Inc.
Inspiration Studios www.inspirationstudiosgallery.com
Calendar of Events
Mar 7-Apr 28 “Angst”
Kevin Batcher art exhibit
Apr 17-18 Moon Over Buffalo
—a Village Playhouse production
Apr 20-21 Auditions: VPW 30th Annual One Act Festival
7pm @ Inspiration Studios
—an Inspiration Studios production
Apr 22 Sound Check Studio Recital
7pm @ Inspiration Studios
Apr 24-25 Moon Over Buffalo
—Village Playhouse production
Apr 26-27-28 A Play About Parker
—Off Book Players production
April 30-May 30 “Through the Mirrors of Time”
Maria Dolores Parks (Ecuador) art exhibit
Opening Reception—April 30, 5-9pm
May 1-2-3 Moon Over Buffalo
—Village Playhouse production
May 8-9 The Recovering Pessimist
—Inspiration Studios production
May 15-16-17 The Recovering Pessimist
—Inspiration Studios production
June 1-30 “WA-a-la-Art” exhibit from WAWM school staff
Opening Reception—June 7
during West Allis a la Carte
Visit our website for more information regarding upcoming events
www.inspirationstudiosgallery.com
Jamee Stefanski (Assistant Director) This is Jamee’s first show
as an assistant director. Her directorial debut was Time Doesn’t
Heal All Wounds in VPW’s One Act Festival last June. Prior to
that she could be found on stage having done shows at Sunset
Playhouse, Lake Country Playhouse, Waukesha Civic and
here at VPW. Her favorite roles are in the Ensemble in Miss Sai-
gon at Waukesha Civic and Roz in Moon Over Buffalo at LCP.
She is currently a Domestic Engineer and lives in West Allis with
her husband Tracy and her 3 beautiful girls, Samantha, Paige and
Lexi.
Sandra Wyss (Set Design) enjoys being involved in all aspects of
theater, backstage and acting onstage. She was the set designer
and artistic director for All in the Timing, The Mouse That
Roared, Return of the Pink Panther, School House Rock Live.
Sandy has enjoyed scenic painting for many main stage and chil-
dren’s shows for Village Playhouse and Brookfield Players. She
has been Props Designer, Assistant Stage Manager and actress
with Over Our Head Players, Racine. When not involved in the
theater, Sandy displays paintings in art fairs and galleries in the
Milwaukee area. She has had opportunities in indie films, movies
and tv shows in Chicago and Milwaukee area.
Robert A. Zimmerman (George Hay) is making his Village Play-
house debut, and is very grateful to be here. His love for local
theatre extends over 40* years, including writing, directing, set
design, performing and sweeping the stage. Some favorite acting
roles include Max Bialystock in The Producers, Tevye in Fiddler
on the Roof, Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, Peron in Evita,
Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Noah in Two by Two,
Fagin in Oliver!, Applegate in Damn Yankees, Sherlock Holmes
in The Hound of the Baskervilles, Selsdon in Noises Off, Albert
Soady, Jr. in Escanaba In Da Moonlight, Michael in I Do, I Do,
and Harold Hill in “The Music Man.” Bob is not only couched in
mortified disbelief of that number, but in unabashed, vehement
denial.
Production Crew
Producer Rosie Peterson
Director Michael “Paco” Pocaro
Assistant Director Jamee Stefanski
Stage Manager Michelle Miller
Technical Director Larry Beckley
Set Design Sandra Wyss
Set Construction Larry Beckley
Art Carter
Manny Cotto
Erico Ortiz
Casey Paszciewicz
Rosie Peterson
Sandra Wyss
Light Design Casey Pasciewicz
Lights Victoria Diaz
Sound Casey Pasciewicz
Set Crew Morgan Cotto
Jarid Cotto
Christine Altenbach
Props Marilou Davido
Fight Choreography Gene Schuldt
Costumes Michelle Miller
Rosie Peterson
Hair Victoria Diaz
House Manager Rita Bates
Publicity Erico Ortiz
Rosie Peterson
Photography Audwin Short
Graphics/Flyer Design Derek Jacobs
Banner/Program Design Erico Ortiz
Special Thanks Sunset Playhouse
Tom Zuehlke
Please pardon any omissions due to printing deadlines
KEN LUDWIG has had 6 shows on Broadway and 7 in London’s West End, and his plays and musicals have been performed in more than 30 countries in over 20 languages. His first play on Broadway, Lend Me A Tenor, which the Washington Post called "one of the classic comedies of the 20th century,” won two Tony Awards and was nomi-nated for seven. He has also won two Laurence Olivier Awards (England’s highest theater honor), the Charles MacArthur Award, two Helen Hayes Awards, the Edgar Award for Best Mystery from The
Mystery Writers of America, the SETC Distinguished Career Award, and the Edwin Forrest Award for Services to the Ameri-can Theatre. His plays have been commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Bristol Old Vic. He has written 22 plays and musicals, including Crazy For You (5 years on Broad-way and the West End, Tony and Olivier Award Winner for Best Musical), Moon Over Buffalo (Broadway and West End), The Ad-ventures of Tom Sawyer (Broadway), Treasure Island(West End), Twentieth Century (Broadway), Leading Ladies, Shake-speare in Hollywood, The Game’s Afoot, The Fox on the Fair-way, The Three Musketeers and The Beaux’ Stratagem. His most recent plays includeBaskerville, A Comedy of Tenors, and Tiny Tim’s Christmas Carol (2015 Helen Hayes Award nominee for Outstanding Play). His newest book, How To Teach Your Chil-dren Shakespeare, (winner of the Falstaff Award for Best Shake-speare Book of 2014) is published by Random House. Over the years, his plays and musicals have starred Alec Baldwin, Carol Burnett, Lynn Redgrave, Mickey Rooney, John Astin, Hal Hol-brook, Dixie Carter, Otto Schenck,Tony Shalhoub, Anne Heche, Joan Collins, and Kristin Bell. His work is published by the Yale Review, and he is a Sallie B. Goodman Fellow of the McCarter Theatre, Princeton. He holds degrees from Harvard, where he studied music with Leonard Bernstein, Haverford College and Cambridge University. For more information, please visit www.kenludwig.com.
About the playwright….
A Nun, a Lawyer and a Gorilla walk into a bar. The bartender says, “Hey, what is this? Some kind of joke?”. Yeah, this is some kind of joke! And I like a good joke, don’t you? You know Director’s Notes are usually intended to be somehow socially relevant, whetting the appetite for provocation, insight and thoughtful entertainment. That’s a pretty high order for “Moon Over Buffalo”.
Now that’s not to say that good comedy can’t be provoca-tive. There are at least as many types of comedy as there are Shades of Grey. Consider the socially relevant comedy of “MASH”, or the stigma-busting, in your face comedy of “All in the Family” and all its spin-offs. But this is …vaudeville. This is slapstick. This production has been brazenly plagiarized from all my personal favorites; Laurel and Hardy, Abbot and Costello, The Three Stooges and The Marx Brothers.
The beauty of comedies like “Moon Over Buffalo” is they’re built upon the human weakness we all know and celebrate in our own lives. They’re the shifty cousin, the overbearing uncle, the feisty nephew, the bumbling suitor, and most of all – the Self and all its adorable shortcomings!
It has been my intention to bring this comedy of mistaken iden-tity, drunkenness, infidelity, and slamming doors to its knees with deftly performed double takes, slow burns, and pratfalls. I personally enjoy self-effacing, physical comedy over nearly all others. The beauty of self-effacing comedy is, even if you get it wrong you just laugh and say, “See?”
I hope you get a belly laugh or two from tonight’s produc-tion. Laughing is, after all, a sign of social healing and holistic wellness. It’s known to be common to all races, all ages, and all genders. How’s that for social relevancy!!??
Michael (Paco) Pocaro
From the director...
Opportunity Knocks!
Join us for the
remaining shows of our
2014-2015 Season
April 17-May 3
June 5-21
August 7-23
Traveling Children’s Show
June 28—Summerfest
Village Playhouse Inspiration Studios
1500 S. 73rd Street, West Allis
VPW Cast & Crew—Break legs! Jaime and Patrina Hurtado, Owners
Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.
Inspiration Studios
1500 S. 73rd Stree
t
West Allis, WI 53214
414 587-3474
Directed by
Michael Pocaro
7:30pm
April 17-April 18
April 23-April 24
May 1-May 2
2:00pm
May 3 Matinee
By Ken Ludwig
Village Playhouse presents
