Described as "a humorous journey of one young man's quest for love in the minefields of contemporary gay culture," Tim Pinckney's Message To Michael follows a "normal" guy through the world of personal ads, 900 numbers and the NY bar scene. Michael opened Dec. 15 and, due to popular response, has been extended a month past its Jan. 5 closing date to Feb. 2, 1997.
Michael Scheman directs the comedy, which stars David Beach, Kevin Cristaldi, Rick Hammerley, Michael Malone, Tony Meindl and Eric Paeper. Serving as mentor for the production is actor/director Joe Mantello, who starred in Angels In America and directed Broadway's Love! Valour! Compassion! and What's Wrong With This Picture?. Mantello assisted the production in casting, script development and rehearsals.
Director Scheman has staged Paul Rudnick's Jeffrey "around the globe" and served as assistant director for that show's Off-Broadway production.
Van Santvoord designed the sets for Michael, Susan Branch the costumes, Ed McCarthy the lighting.
For tickets ($25) and information on Message To Michael, which plays at the Theatre Off Park on Waverly Place, call (212) 627-2556. --By David Lefkowitz