Photo Flash: Actor's NET Presents CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF

Big Daddy is being feted on his 65th birthday, unaware that he is dying of cancer. Gathered are his favored alcoholic son, Brick, whose marriage to the beautiful and sensuous Maggie "the Cat," and his other son, Gooper, whose wife is about to give birth to another of the grandchildren described as "the no-neck monsters."

John Helmke of Hamilton, NJ costars as Brick, who drinks to forget a troubled past, and Cat Miller of Bristol plays hiw wife, Maggie, who tries unsuccessfully to seduce Brick and coax him away from the bottle. NET Artistic Director Cheryl Doyle of Morrisville directs.

"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is Williams at his best," Ms. Doyle noted. "The characters live in a world of Big Daddy's high expectations and Brick's self-loathing. Maggie the Cat wants desperately to save her marriage, even if it means alternately enticing him and taunting him to snap him out of his depression. When high hopes and shattered dreams collide, audience members in the intimate theatre space will feel like flies on the wall as they watch this shattering battle of wills."

Also featured are Jack Bathke of Robbinsville, NJ as Gooper; Susan Blair of Philadelphia as his wife, Mae; Marco Newton of Yardley as Doc Baugh; Mike Waintraub of Yardley as Rev. Tucker; and Wilma Shakesnider of Cherry Hill, NJ as the Sookey the Maid. Making their stage debuts as Gooper and Mae's children are (alphabetically) Eva Grace Crosson of Yardley, Danielle Gruenke of Morrisville and Lauren Silverstein of Richboro.

"We've assembled a dream cast to enact the nightmare that is Big Daddy's birthday," Ms. Doyle said. "Our leads and supporting players are accomplished veteran actors, while our few newcomers bring to their roles the energy and enthusiasm to make for an unforgettable theatre experience."

Besides directing, Ms. Doyle also designed the set and is coordinating costume design. Marco Newton assistant directs. Stage management is by Matthew Cassidy, lighting design is by Andrena Wishnie, and sound design is by Corey Stradling, all of Morrisville.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof performs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. at the Heritage Center, 635 N. Delmorr Avenue (Route 32), Morrisville - near the Calhoun Street Bridge. Tickets are $20 for adults, $17 for seniors and $10 for children 12 and under. Due to intense situations, parental guidance is advised. Produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service. To reserve, call the nonprofit theatre company at 215-296-3694 or email actorsnet@aol.com. The company's website is www.actorsnetbucks.org. For on-line tickets, visit www.brownpapertickets.com.