Photo Flash: MARILYN ... MADNESS & ME Extends Through Oct 20 at El Portal Theatre
By: BWW News Desk Oct. 08, 2013
The writer who gave television some of its favorite moments in entertainment with "Flamingo Road," "Dallas," "Falcon Crest," "The Colbys," "General Hospital," and "Dynasty," Frank V. Furino, has brought Marilyn Monroe back to life ... on stage in "Marylin ... MADNESS & Me," which is based on an original concept by Didier Bloch, under the direction of Joe Leonardo. Opening in the Monroe Forum at the El Portal Theatre on Sept 26th for a limited run, the overwhelming response from the public and press alike, has resulted in the production's extension through October 20th, 2013, at which point the destiny of the show, with an eye on Broadway's Great White Way, will be determined. Scroll down for photos from the show!
The El Portal Theatre is very proud to present this poignant, compelling, and shocking tale of unrequited love, centered around the last months of Marilyn Monroe's life as told in first-person style, by a man who became obsessed with Norma Jean Baker, and dramatized by the use of fictional excerpts from Marilyn Monroe's diary. Frank V. Furino's "Marilyn ... MADNESS & Me," starring Adam Meyer and Alison Janes, puts a revealing spotlight on the career, the life, the myth that was and is Marilyn Monroe and has completely captivated the world for generations.
Oscar winner, George Chakiris, who worked with Marilyn Monroe on "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" remarked, "I was extremely impressed with Adam Meyer's work in this production." While Gilligan castaway, Dawn Wells, who was an extra on "The Mistfits" with Monroe added, "Great theatre and a great exhibit ... My senses are overjoyed." Other noted patrons comments include "Mr. Furino's dramatic use of fictional excerpts from Marilyn's diary is inspirational," said four time EMMY winner, Michael Learned. "I'm a huge Marilyn fan, so I tend to be a little critical of how she is depicted. However, I loved Alison (Janes) portrayal and Furino's script is a love story to the great Monroe," says comic icon, Judy Tenuta. "Both Adam (Meyers) and Alison (Janes) have great futures ahead of them," comments Honeymooners star, Jane Kean. "I loved the production ... " offered Leave it To Beaver's Jerry Mathers.
WRITER/PRODUCER: Frank V. Furino is a successful writer and producer for primetime/daytime TV programs including "Flamingo Road," "Dallas," "Falcon Crest," "The Colbys," "General Hospital," and more, in addition to being the Executive Story Editor on "Dynasty." Co-Created and produced, "Nightingales" series for Spelling Productions/NBC. As the Director of Production for Dick Clark Productions he created, wrote and produced nationally syndicated programs and was a writer for ABC-TV's "New Years Rockin' Eve." As Vice-President, Diamond P Enterprises, he wrote and produced syndicated sports and entertainment shows and was voted Syndicated Country Music Broadcast Producer of the Year by Billboard Magazine. As a staff director with ABC News/Sports, he worked along side Howard Cosell, Keith Jackson, Ted Koppel, Peter Jennings, and more, covering NFL Football, Championship Boxing, Auto Racing, Space Shots, Political Conventions and The Olympics.
DIRECTOR: Joe Leonardo's credits include "It's Better with a Band" in New York, London and Philadelphia "Me and My Girl," "Grand Hotel," "Sweeney Todd" (Joseph Jefferson Award Winner/1993) and Miss Saigon. His first production of "At Wit's End" received 11 Carbonell Award nominations (2001). As Artistic Director of NETworks, he has overseen the national tours of "Kiss of the Spider Woman," "The Sound of Music," "Stage Fair," "Damn Yankees," "Victor/Victoria," "Big," "Show Boat," "Annie," "Jekyll and Hyde," "Bully," "The Civil War," "Cirque Ingenieux," "Cinderella," and "Ragtime." Mr. Leonardo is the Laura Carnell Professor of Theater and Director of Theater at Temple University in Philadelphia. producing twenty-four seasons and directing over thirty musicals and plays by such authors as Shakespeare, Moliere, Chekhov, Genet, Stoppard, Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides.
Adam Meyer (Tim) fell into acting in High School through a computer error with a cast list and has never looked back since. On the Antaeus Stage he has been seen in Mother Courage and her Children, Tonight at 8:30, King Lear, The Malcontent, Peace In Our time, and Macbeth. Along with being a founding A2 Rep of the A2 ensemble, he has been seen in The Dumb Waiter, and The Thin Man in the A2 Ensemble Last Call productions. He has done Theatre all over the US at such reputable theatres as The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Williamstown Theatre Festival and Cortland Repertory Theatre. Some TV credits include: Untold Stories from the E.R. (TLC) and Ella and Me (Animal Planet). Some WEB credits include: Adam in A to B, (www.atobonline.com), Captain Amazing in The Sanctum, (www.santumsodes.com), and has appeared in many sketches on www.meyerbros.net . He holds a BA in Theatre form Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Much Thanks and Love to Rebecca Miller, Mom, Dad, Zack, and Mike.
Alison Janes (Norma Jean/Marilyn), comes to this production with background in both film and theater. On screen she had the leading roles in "Morbid Minutes," "Phantom of the Opera," "The Twilight Zone: Curse of the Black Orlov" - she also had supporting roles in "Matters of the Heart," "The Mechanics," "Nighthawks" and more. Her theater credits include the role of Violet in "It's a Wonderful Life," Johanna in "Sweeney Todd," Mabel in "Pirates of Penzance," and Dawn Lovett in "Sidetracked." Alison has also graced the opera stage with singing roles in productions of "Die Fledermaus," "Candide," "Falstaff" and more. She is a graduate of DePaul University, Master of Music. And just for good measure she speaks French, German, Italian & Spanish.
El Portal Theatre is a historic landmark in the San Fernando Valley located in the heart of North Hollywood and sits across from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Since it's opening in 1926 -- first for Vaudeville, then Silent Movies, and then Academy Award-winning films. Chosen by the Smithsonian Institute as the venue for induction ceremonies to announce their first permanent Entertainment History Exhibit, in the past ten years celebrities have starred in productions and musical reviews including Debbie Reynolds, Bea Arthur, Kitty Carlisle Hart, Charles Nelson Reilly, Ed Begley, Jr., Hal Linden, Carol Lawrence, Fred Savage, Sally Struthers, Charlotte Rae, Marnie Nixon, Joanne Worley, Vicki Lewis, Carol Channing, The Manhattan Transfer, to name only a few and now the El Portal is thrilled to offer Rita McKenzie in "Ethel Merman's Broadway." For more information, visit www.elportaltheatre.com
Photos Credit: Ed Krieger
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