Entering its third month at the Byron Carlyle Theatre, the Miami Beach Stage Door Theatre presents Neil Simon's award-winning comedy "The Prisoner of Second Avenue," opening Friday, November 11 through November 26. The production replaces "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" on the season schedule.
Based on feedback from theatre patrons following the first two productions at the theatre, "SUDS" and "Song Man Dance Man" - both of which were well received - co-founders/executive producers Derelle Bunn and David Torres felt that the
Neil Simon production was better suited to the Miami Beach market. The plot, centering on the how a job loss affects a family, is certainly a timely one in this economic environment.
A melding of comedy and drama, "Prisoner of Second Avenue" revolves around the escalating challenges faced by a Mel and Edna Edison, a middle-aged couple clinging to the American Dream. Mel has lost his job and begins to unravel, a plight exacerbated by noisy neighbors, excessive summer heat, a robbery and more. Ultimately, it is up to his loving family to bring Mel back to reality.
The 1971 Broadway debut of Simon's "Prisoner of Second Avenue" enjoyed a 788-show run and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play. The film version starred
Jack Lemmon and
Anne Bancroft, with music by
Marvin Hamlisch.
Dan Kelley and Derelle Bunn will portray Mel and Edna, reprising roles they performed in an earlier production at the Broward
Stage Door Theatre in Coral Springs. What was originally scheduled for just a few shows, their performance garnered high praise, resulting in a three-month, sold-out run, with six shows per week.
A resident of Miami, actor/director Dan Kelley has been nominated for the Carbonell award six times, both as "Best Actor in a Musical" and for "Best Director of a Musical." Last year he received the coveted Silver Palm Award for his direction and performance as "Man in Chair" at The Broward
Stage Door Theatre. He also is the proud recipient of a Curtain Up Award and The Anthony Award as Best Actor in a Musical.
As the lead actress in "Prisoner of Second Avenue," Derelle Bunn returns to her first love - performing on stage. She has had a life- long career in the performing arts, leaving home at 15 for her first major contract as a professional actress, in the national tour of "Jesus Christ Superstar." She started dance at the age of five under the tutelage of the Russian Prima-Ballerina Dame Gladys Lasky, later studying under
Ann Reinking and
Ben Vereen. She studied voice in New York with Helen Trezlie and
Fred Silver, and was a finalist for the prestigious NYSTA award for vocalists, presented to her by
Stephen Sondheim.
Derelle's stage credits include Sybil, the female lead in "Dorian" and more than 100 Stock and Regional shows throughout the country. In addition to directing several productions at the Broward
Stage Door Theatre, she has produced more than 500 shows, including Off-Broadway and National Tours. She also has co-produced with two Broadway luminaries, Larry Toppall ("Jersey Boys") and Ken Dennison ("Lion King").
"The Prisoner of Second Avenue" will run from Friday, November 11 through Sunday, November 26. Performances are Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm. Tickets are $38 - $42 and are available at the Box Office at Miami Beach Stage Door Theatre at the Byron Carlyle, 500 71st Street, Miami Beach (305.397.8977) or online at www.stagedoorfl.org.
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