ME AND JEZEBEL Off-Broadway Revival Opens Tonight at Snapple Theater Center

Drew Friedman, in association with Robert R. Blume (Executive Producer of the Drama Desk Awards) will present the 20th anniversary, off-Broadway revival of Elizabeth Fuller's international hit comedy ME AND JEZEBEL, a play based on a true story about the irascible queen of Hollywood, Bette Davis. Previews began Wednesday, July 17, 2013 at 8PM and the official opening is tonight, July 24, 2013 at 8PM at the Snapple Theater Center (210 West 50th St.), in Manhattan. Mark S. Graham directs.

On May 28, 1985, star-struck Elizabeth Fuller's dream came true when the legendary Bette Davis came to dinner at her dilapidated New England cottage. Four weeks later, as the hotel strike in New York raged on, she was still there. In one short month she conquered suburbia, took over the Fullers' home and changed their life forever.

ME and JEZEBEL is a candidly funny day-to-day account of trying to please the irascible queen of Hollywood in so adverse a condition as ordinary life - it's a look at the explosive, intimidating and demanding Bette Davis that no fan would expect: participating in a séance, berry picking, signing autographs at McDonald's, and remaining every inch the superstar while riding shotgun in a beat up Toyota!

Also on display in the lobby of the theatre will be three never before seen poems written by Davis herself, who hid them in the Fuller home when she finally left. They are thought to be her first crack at poetry writing. Other personal belongings of Bette Davis are in the show including the stunning sapphire and pearl bracelet that she always wore, one of her cocktail dresses, a pair of pearl earrings, and a kiddy table that she autographed and used at cocktail time.

ME AND JEZEBEL is currently playing around the world. It has run in Prague, Slovakia, Munich, Warsaw, Athens, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Sydney and Melbourne. It is currently running in San Paolo, Brazil.

The cast of ME AND JEZEBEL is comprised of MR. Kelly Moore and Ms. Elizabeth Fuller. Mr. Moore has received widespread acclaim for his portrayal of Bette Davis, while Ms. Fuller, who wrote the play to tell her life experience, plays herself.

Elizabeth Fuller (Author) is the author of ten published books. She is an Op-Ed contributor to the New York Times and playwright of four Spaghetti Musicals, which ran in outdoor dinner theatre in New Haven, CT for the past four years. However, the project closest to Elizabeth's heart is Me and Jezebel, which was first written as a book. Director, Mark S. Graham, first read it when it was still in manuscript form, and from that moment on they have worked closely taking it from the written page to a one-person show that toured the country to a two person play that is currently playing around the world. The book has recently been optioned for a major motion picture. Elizabeth is also the inventor of the irreverent board game "Fleece the Flock" which gives TV Evangelists two weeks to get out of town. When the board game first came out Playboy Magazine gave it a free half page ad as their nod of approval.

MR. Kelly Moore has brought Bette Davis to life for the past 17 years, from Key West to Kansas City, and Connecticut to Sydney. He began his acting career at the age of twelve at the Dallas Theatre Center, and then moved on to Atlanta's Academy Theatre and ALLIANCE THEATRE and the Syracuse Repertory Theatre. He attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and made his Broadway debut in Life With Father. He toured for five years with the Emmy Award-winning Prince Street Players. He was seen in the HB Studios production of Caravaggio. His favorite roles include the Artful Dodger in Oliver, Littlechap in Stop the World, the Boy inThe Fantasticks and Jacquot in Carnival. He earned a mention in Variety when at fourteen he played the title role in Peter Pan, one of the few males up to that time to have done so. When not onstage, Kelly lives in a log cabin in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Mark S. Graham (Director) has directed over 100 plays and musicals including the premiere of Elizabeth Fuller's Me and Jezebel at The Actor's Playhouse. Mark worked with Ms. Fuller to develop the play from her book. He has produced and directed Me and Jezebel in productions across the country including a production starring Jim Bailey. Mark directed John O'Hern's Rooster in the Henhouse at Theater Row. At Feinstein's in NYC, he directed Barbara Schottenfeld's cabaret act. Mark staged a musical version ofDark of the Moon narrated by Werner Klemperer at The Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. He directed the premiere of Sweetspot, a comedy about golf addiction by John O' Hern. He directed E. Katherine Kerr in Ann Richards, Backwards in High Heels at the Abingdon Theater. At the Theatre for The New City, Mark recently co-directed Renovations, a new play by William Russell. Mark has directed and co-produced Stan Lachow's Harry and Thelma in The Woods in readings with Rue McClanahan and productions at The New Jersey Rep and the Hollywood Playhouse. He is currently developing a play about the life of William Shakespeare, entitledShakespeare in The Dark by Mary Jane Schaefer, which will be read at the National Arts Club in September. For ten years, Mark was a producing partner with the late Tony Award winning producer Lester Osterman. He began his career as general manager of Lucille Lortel's White Barn Theater. Mark is a founding member of the Downtown Cabaret Theater in Bridgeport, CT. Mark has an MFA in directing from the University of Connecticut. He has served as a board member of Westport Country Playhouse and Playhouse on the Green. In addition, Mark is a thirty-year member of The Theatre Artist's Workshop.

Set and costume design is by Gary Enck, sound design is by PJ Letersky. Laura Heller is the General Manager, Advertising & Marketing is by Katie Rosin at Kampfire PR.

Performances of ME AND JEZEBEL are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8PM and Saturdays at 5PM.

Tickets for ME AND JEZEBEL are $65 and available online at www.ticketmaster.com, by calling the Snapple Theater Center Box Office at 212.921.7862 or in person, at the box office prior to each performance. A limited number of specially priced $45 tickets available only at the box office, in person. Premium tickets are also available. Carol Ostrow Group Sales - Phone: (212) 265-8500.

The Snapple Theater Center is located at 210 West 50th St. in New York City.

Photo Credit: Marc Sullivan

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