Tony Braithwaite, Jim Stanek End Run in THE STORY OF MY LIFE at Act II Playhouse, 5/23

Act II Playhouse will end its run of the intimate new musical The Story of My Life, on May 23 and written by Neil Bartram (music and lyrics) and Brian Hill (book). Directed by Bud Martin, The Story of My Life stars Tony Braithwaite and Jim Stanek as lifelong best friends.

The Story of My Life explores the evolution and impact of a friendship that begins in grade school and continues for nearly 30 years. Thomas Weaver (Stanek) is a best-selling, award-winning author, and Alvin Kelby (Braithwaite) is his quirky "book-keeper" buddy. But time can test the bonds of friendship, and when it does, Thomas calls on the only resource he has - his stories of Alvin - to discover where and why things changed. Nominated for four Drama Desk Awards during its Broadway run, The Story of My Life is an original, moving tribute to the people who change our lives forever.

There are relationships in your life that influenced you without you really noticing it at the time, but in retrospect, changed the course of your life," said composer Bartram in a recent interview with Playbill.com. "It's like a one-act play," added Hill, "and we often say that act two is actually the ride home, with people talking about what they saw."

The Story of My Life premiered at Toronto's Canadian Stage Company in fall 2006, and was produced on Broadway by Martin and three other co-producers in February 2009 under the direction of Tony Award-winning director Richard Maltby Jr.

"I first saw The Story of My Life as a reading at the NAMT festival in 2008 and it brought tears to every eye in the theatre," said Bud Martin, Act II's Producing Artistic Director and the director of this piece. "I was so moved by it that I immediately pursued the rights and wound up being one of its Broadway producers. We received so many comments and emails from people that told us they looked up an old friend that they had not seen in years, and were so appreciative of the opportunity to see the show. Its impact on audiences has been amazing," addEd Martin. 

"When I saw The Story of My Life on Broadway, I already knew that Bud was interested in producing it someday at Act II," said Barrymore Award-winning actor Tony Braithwaite, "and I couldn't help but think to myself how well this charming two-man show would play in Act II's more intimate space. I can't wait to work alongside Bud and Jim to craft our own unique version of this story for Act II audiences."

Due to a scheduling conflict, Braithwaite will not be onstage for the four final performances of The Story of My Life. In an interesting twist, Stanek - who understudied both roles on Broadway - will switch characters and portray Alvin, while director Bud Martin will step into the role of Thomas Weaver.
Jane Hulting is Music Director for The Story of My Life. Act II's production also features set design by Barrymore nominee Dirk Durossette, costume design by Wade Laboissonniere, lighting design by James Leitner (Barrymore Award for Act II's 2004 production of Mary's Wedding), and sound design by Mark Valenzuela.

Honorary Producers for The Story of My Life are the Copernicus Society of America, Merle Holman, and Berne Siergiej & Anne Dunnington.

SPECIAL DRESS REHEARSAL FUNDRAISER

The final dress rehearsal of The Story of My Life will be open to the public on Sunday, April 25, at 2 p.m. Suggested donation is $10, and all contributions will be donated to two non-profits: the Wissahickon Valley Public Library, with branches in Blue Bell and Ambler; and Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic.

WHO'S WHO IN THE CAST

Bud Martin (Director) is enjoying his second season at Act II and he is thrilled to return to his roots in the theatre after a "brief, 25 year hiatus" in corporate finance. He graduated from DeSales University and received his M.A. in Theatre from Villanova University. He taught theatre in high school, college and graduate school before embarking on a professional producing and directing career in 1978. He entered the corporate world in 1982 and was inducted into the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Hall of Fame in the summer of 2006. In addition to The Story of My Life at Act II, he has directed Married Alive!, Magnetic North, On Golden Pond and Respect: A Musical Journey of Women, which ran an unprecedented 12 weeks and is now playing downtown at Society Hill Playhouse. Just before joining Act II, he produced and directed Michael Friel's highly acclaimed play, The Children of Fatima, for Theatre Catalyst in Philadelphia. He co-produced George Stiles' (Honk!, Tom Jones, Mary Poppins) new musical adventure, The Three Musketeers, at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and North Shore Music Theatre. His Broadway producing credits include The Story of My Life, Dolly Parton's 9 to 5: The Musical, and Burn the Floor. He has co-produced London's smash hit Legally Blonde, The Musical, currently playing on the West End and is involved in a number of other West End, Broadway and international touring productions.

TONY BRAITHWAITE (Alvin Kelby) is a Barrymore Award-winning actor, teacher, director, writer, and comedian whose professional career began at 13, when he became the youngest stand-up comic ever to appear at NYC's legendary Comedy Club, The Improv. As an adult, Tony has performed at numerous theatres: in Philadelphia, New Jersey, Chicago, and D.C. An Act II regular, Tony will also appear here next season in his live talk show, "Heeere's Tony," and as Mark in Art. Next up: Selznick in Moonlight and Magnolias at Montgomery Theatre. www.tonybraithwaite.com.

Jim Stanek (Thomas Weaver) - Broadway: The Story of My Life, Lestat, Little Women, The Rivals, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, Indiscretions. Off-Broadway: Frankenstein; Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris; Slut; I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change; Saturday Night; Captains Courageous. Regional: It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Skyline Theatre), Pride and Prejudice (Eastman), Ace (Signature), The Producers (North Shore), Carnival! (Kennedy Center), My Fair Lady (McCarter), The Threepenny Opera (Williamstown), The 3hree Musketeers (San Jose), Thoroughly Modern Millie (La Jolla). Film/TV: Bella, Borough of Kings, "Adversaries" (NBC pilot ), "Guiding Light." Recordings: Frankenstein, The 3hree Musketeers, Forum. Education: BFA from Carnegie Mellon University. Inspiration: my wife, three boys, family and faith.

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