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bulletWritten By:  Gore Vidal
bulletDirected by:   Marc Malley
bulletProduced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service

Run of Show

"The Best Man" ran January 12 - 27, 2007.

Synopsis

The New York Post describes the plot as follows: "…William Russell, the ex-Secretary of State, is a wit and scholar with high liberal principles, beloved of the eggheads and suspected by practical politicians. Joseph Cantwell is a ruthless and hard-driving young man, a dirty fighter who will let no scruples stand in the way of his ambitions. And Arthur Hockstader is an ex-President, who loves politics for their own sake, admires a rough-and-tumble battle more than a chivalrous one, and is determined to have the final say in the selection of his party's candidate…The ruthless young man has got hold of papers indicating that his rival once suffered from a mental crackup, which he is all set to use. Then his scrupulous antagonist comes across some incriminating evidence about Cantwell, which he is loath to produce. The scruples don't appeal to the ex-President, who enjoys seeing the boys fight. All of this provides the framework for some vivid and interesting scenes in which Mr. Vidal contrasts the minds, emotions and fighting spirits of the two candidates…"

Program

The Program for this show can be viewed by Clicking Here.  (Requires Adobe Reader)

The People ...

Leading Roles
in order of appearance
Fmr. Sec. of State William Russell Norb Mills
Alice Russell Jean Mills
Dick Jensen Pat Mahoney
Catherine Kara Ayers
Sen. Joseph Cantwell Ben Lumbrezer
Mabel Cantwell Suzanne Jennens
Don Blades Charles Crockett
Ex-President Arthur Hockstader Paul Palmisano
Mrs. Sue-Ellen Gamadge Diana West
Sen. Clyde Carlin John Henry
Dr. Artinian Nicholas Aharon Boggioni
Sheldon Marcus Brad Riker
1st Reporter & Delegate Chris Hall
2nd Reporter & Delegate Megan Ray
3rd Reporter & Delegate Frank Venda
4th Reporter & Delegate Kara Ayers
5th Reporter & Delegate Brandon Ware

Production Staff

Director

 Marc Malley

Producer

 Jean Mills

Set Design

 John van der Meer

Stage Managers

 Judson Lohman & Paige Price

Lighting Designer

 Dan Finkel

     Crew

 Sue Dessner & Jeff Mills

Costume Design

 Christine Youngs
Property Masters Sue Dennis
     Crew Ernie Brown, Jean Brown, Robert Ingram , & Wendy Speiser
Set Construction John Henry, John van der Meer, Steve Mierzejewski, Norb Mills, Bob Smith, & Don Weber
Set Dressing Jean Mills & Brad Riker
Scenic Art Derek Hansen, Judson Lohman, Megan Ray, Brad Riker & Brandon Ware
Sound Design Don Weber
     Crew Derek Hansen & Alison Stark
Program Laura Ahrens, Jake Gordy & Frank Venda
Program Art & Cover Design H.O.T. Graphics
House Manager Ann Veasey
Box Office Ann Veasey
     Assisted By Kimberley Bruggemann, Sandy Fry, Darlene Hatfield, Barbara Heindel, Sue Holliger, Carol Hojnacki, Rita Konecki, Debbie Krieger, Diane Nowakowski, Jinny Patterson, & Judy Wiederhold
Program Printing The Copy Center
Marquee Signs Larry Janney & Norb Mills
Theatre Photographer Frank Venda
Special Thanks

Children's Theatre Workshop
Kevin Charles Hair Artistry
Maumee High School Drama Department
WNWO TV, NBC 24

Political Posters Courtesy of
Mike Orra of CAD Graphics, Inc.

The Show!

Setting:    A presidential convention in Philadelphia, 1960.

bulletAct I
bulletScene 1. A Sheraton Hotel suite.
bulletScene 2. Senator Joseph Cantwell’s suite. The same evening.
bulletScene 3. William Russell’s suite. The following morning.
bulletAct II
bulletScene 1. Cantwell suite. A few minutes later
bulletScene 2. Russell suite. A few minutes later.
bulletScene 3. Cantwell suite. A few minutes later.
bulletScene 4. Russell suite. The next morning.

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Last Modified: 03/24/09