Gore Vidal’s The Best Man, the political drama that was last revived on Broadway in 2012, opens September 16 at the George Frey Center for Arts and Recreation in Fair Lawn, NJ.
Fair Lawn Recreation Department’s resident theatre company, Old Library Theatre, presents the piece September 16-17 at 8 PM and September 18 at 2 PM.
Directed by Craig M. Tiede, the cast includes Mark Mason (William Russell), Shannon Lenahan (Joseph Cantwell), Jak Prince (President Arthur Hockstader), Kristine Stringer (Alice Russell), Maureen McNulty (Mabel Cantwell), Geoffrey Waumans (Dick Jensen), Richard M. Bernstein (Don Blades), Cynthia Smith Barry (Sue-Ellen Gamadge), Don Pflaster (Sheldon Marcus), Kenny Sandler (Clyde Carlin), Alexandria Lefkovits-Callaghan (Catherine), James Gwyn (Dr. Artinian/Photographer 3/Delegate), Chris Gatterdam (Reporter 1/Delegate), Evan T. Charpentier (Reporter 2/Delegate), Brendan Joel Bartlett (Reporter 3/Delegate), Thomas Winkler (Reporter 4/Delegate), Matt Cavallo (Photographer 1/Delegate) and David Yurch (Photographer 2/Bellboy).
“Written by Gore Vidal, the play expertly explores the uneasy relationships between power and ethics, goodness and ambition, and what the public wants in a president versus what they really need in one,” says director Tiede. “It’s an ideal play for OLT to produce at this heightened political moment.”
According to press notes, “It is the 1960 Republican National Convention in Philadelphia, and William Russell, the ex-Secretary of State, is locked in a nomination battle with Senator Joseph Cantwell—with neither of them having the number of delegates needed to win their party’s nomination. When each rival gets a hold of personal information he believes disqualifies his opponent, the former President, Arthur Hockstader, steps in with an agenda all his own: to ensure the best man is chosen.”
Presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, this production is produced by Julie Galorenzo.
The George Frey Center for Arts and Recreation is located at 10-10 20th Street in Fair Lawn, NJ. Reservations can be made by phone at (973) OLT-4420 or by email at [email protected]. For more information, visit OldLibraryTheatre.net.
