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Chatterbox's Rudetsky to Star in Torch Song Trilogy
By Andrew Gans
27 Oct 2006
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Seth Rudetsky
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Seth Rudetsky, the Chatterbox host, actor, musical director, comedian and tireless fundraiser for Broadway Cares and the Actors' Fund, will star as Arnold in the Gallery Players' upcoming production of Torch Song Trilogy.
The groundbreaking play — penned by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein, one of the founding members of Gallery Players — will be presented at the Brooklyn theatre Nov. 25-Dec. 10. Directed by Stephen Nachamie, the cast will also feature Yolanda Batts, Andy Phelan, Laura Raines, Brad Thomason, Marc Tumminelli and Andrea Wollenberg.
Set in the 1970s, Torch Song Trilogy is performed as three separate one-acts. The first play, according to press notes, "The International Stud, introduces Arnold (Rudetsky), a Jewish female impersonator who is struggling to find love with bisexual schoolteacher Ed (Thomason). Fugue in a Nursery ensues in the second play after Ed leaves Arnold for girlfriend Laurel (Wollenberg). The setting is a weekend country house where chaos breaks out when Arnold introduces his new, young, model-boyfriend Alan (Phelan) to Ed. The final play, Widows and Children First! brings Arnold face-to-face with parenthood with an adopted son (Tumminelli) and the only thing that really scares Arnold: the impending visit from his mother (Raines)."
The creative team for the Gallery Players production also includes Craig M. Napoliello (scenic design), Kathleen Leary (costume design), Dan Gallagher (lighting design) and Brenna Sage (sound design/composer).
The original Broadway run of Torch Song Trilogy featured playwright Fierstein, Estelle Getty and Fisher Stevens. Fierstein won Tonys for Best Play and Best Actor in 1983. Fierstein also wrote and starred in the praised 1988 film adaptation of his play.
Creator and host of Seth's Broadway Chatterbox, Seth Rudetsky has served as a pit pianist and/or conductor for such Broadway shows as 42nd Street, The Full Monty, The Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia! and The Producers. He also conceived the idea for the recent all-star The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas concert to benefit the Actors' Fund of America as well as the five previous benefit concerts, Hair, Chess, Funny Girl, On the Twentieth Century and Dreamgirls. Rudetsky was a member of the comedy writing team for "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" for two years, and his awards include the Duplex's Stars of Tomorrow, the Backstage Bistro and the Funniest Gay Male in New York. He was also the author and star of the recent one man, GLAAD nominated show Rhapsody in Seth, and his new tome — "The Q Guide to Broadway" — was just published by Alyson Books. Rudetsky has been seen on "Law & Order" and "All My Children."
The Gallery Players is located at 199 14th Street in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Tickets, priced $14-$18, are available by calling (212) 352-3101. For more information visit www.galleryplayers.com.
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