The Odd Couple – Fairmount Performing Arts Conservatory 2009

“…each of the characters were superbly cast and played. It was a wonderful evening. Neil Simon’s play is still on target for laughter from all ages.”

“FPAC’s production of The Odd Couple was pure sardonic joy! This is a presentation that Neil Simon himself would be proud of – every actor is just perfect in their role and the comedy and timing rival that of anything you might find at Playhouse Square or any professional theater. If you are looking for a night of great theater, you have found it with FPAC’s The Odd Couple.”

“We really enjoyed it very much!” “I loved it!” “A terrific evening for everyone!”

“The show’s highlight is Brian Zoldessy, a multiple Times Theatre Tribute Award Winner, as the hyper-hysterical Felix. As he has done so many times in the past, Zoldessy controls the stage whenever he appears. He is a skinny, fidgety, ball of hysteria. It is worth seeing the show, just to experience Zoldessy in action.”
Roy Berko, American Critics Association

“I laughed. I cried. I especially liked Noah, although he can stand to lose 20 pounds. Come here, bubeleh. Have a piece of cake.” – Noah’s Mother, Greta Budin

“It was hilarious”

“Brian Zoldessy is hysterical as Felix and Scott Hankins is funny and grumpy as Oscar. It has a crew of wonderful actors. The show is directed with a terrific comic touch by Artistic Director, Fred Sternfeld.”

Bob Abelman
News-Herald, Chagrin Valley Times, Solon Times, Geauga Times Courier
Member, International Association of Theatre CriticsThis feature appeared in the Chagrin Valley Times 4/23/09

When discussions of classic American theatre take place, Tennessee Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie” and Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” usually work their way into the conversation. The quality of their writing and the significance of their subject matter render these plays immediately recognizable, truly distinctive and popular to perform.

If providing pleasure were added to the mix of what makes a classic, Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple” would also have to be given due recognition. Although comedy is typically considered a lesser art form than drama, this play is, nonetheless, masterfully written and taps into one of the most significant social movements of our time—divorce.

“The Odd Couple” is about two poker playing buddies, Oscar Madison and Felix Unger, who are thrown together into an impossible living situation. Newly estranged Felix is a neat, compulsive health nut and Oscar is… not. They move in together to save money for alimony and discover they’re having the same conflicts they had in their marriages.

“The Odd Couple” is one of the most celebrated contemporary plays, going from its original 1965 Broadway staging starring Walter Matthau and Art Carney, to a 1968 movie with Mr. Matthau and Jack Lemmon, to a 1970’s sitcom featuring Jack Klugman and Tony Randall, to a recent Broadway revival starring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick. The play comes to our area in a rash of local productions beginning last week and continuing through the summer season.

“This is one of the best comedies to have been written within the last 100 years,” says award-winning local director Fred Sternfeld, whose newly formed Fairmount Performing Arts Conservatory (FPAC) has chosen “The Odd Couple” as its premiere professional production. “We want to concentrate on classic and literary works, and this certainly qualifies. Besides being hilarious, I love what it says about friendship.”

The FPAC production, which is running from April 16 to May 3 in nearby Mayfield Village, has equity actor Brian Zoldessy playing Felix and a wonderfully Matthauian Scott Hankins as Oscar. Tickets are $20 for adults and $18 for seniors and students (call 440-338-3171).

In 1985, Neil Simon revised “The Odd Couple” to accommodate a female cast for a short-lived Broadway run starring Sally Struthers and Rita Moreno as Florence Unger and Olive Madison, respectively. The Geauga Lyric Theater Guild in Chardon proudly presents “The Odd Couple: Female Version” from May 8 to May 24.

This GLTG production is directed by Tina Burgett-Krause, who firmly believes that this play “is not so much a female remake of the original as it is a unique production all its own, that examines the bonds between girlfriends.” Maureen Tanner plays Florence and Linda Fundis plays her counterpart, Olive. Ticket prices are $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and students (call 440-286-2255).

This summer, Kent State University’s outdoor facility Porthouse Theatre, located on the scenic grounds of Blossom Music Center, is going with “mostly light-hearted, escapist productions to help people take their mind off of their worries,” according to pr/marketing director Effie Tsengas. Its rendition of “The Odd Couple” will be running from July 2 to July 18 and directed by Rohn Thomas.

Felix will be played by equity actor and Porthouse regular Eric van Baars and Oscar will be played by equity actor John Woodson, who will be brought in from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Three-show subscription prices range from $54 to $63 for adults, $48 to $63 for seniors and $39 to $42 for students (call 330-672-3884).

If it is effortless entertainment that you crave, and FPAC, GLTG and Porthouse believe that it is, “The Odd Couple” is at your immediate disposal and readily available throughout July.

Bob Abelman (Vinnie) was last seen in Beck Center for the Art’s Peter Pan as Starkey the Pirate, My Favorite Year as Leo Silver and Beauty and the Beast as Belle’s father, Maurice and in Cain Park’s Oliver as Mr. Sowerberry. Up next is Me and My Girl as Lord Battersby at Mercury Summer Stock. Bob finds that being in this Neil Simon classic with this incredible cast is like drawing to an inside straight—a rare and wonderful occurrence. Love to Judy, his rehearsal schedule widow, as well as A.J., Rys and Zaydee—the Patron Saint of Community Theatre. For Fred: A bottle over the bow for his inaugural FPAC professional production.Kirk Brown (Roy) has been involved with theatre now for 37 years starting in his home town of Bakersfield Ca. with the local youth theatre. Since moving to Cleveland in 1984 he has worked at Dobama, CPT, CVLT, Ensemble, JCC, Brecksville and Cain Park. Some of his favorite productions include The Speed of Darkness, Beast on the Moon, The Mystery of Irma Vep, Monkies, Mortals and Mayflies , The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek, Marat/Sade, The Balcony, Corpse, The Marriage of Bette and Boo, The Dynamo, American Clock, South Pacific and The Sound of Music. Kirk works the day Shift at Pete’s Tavern in Cleveland Heights where he also resides with his wonderful wife and family who have supported him so strongly over these many years. Thank you so much! Another special thanks goes to you the audience for attending and supporting live theatre. For all of us on the lit stage it is you in darkness of the house that truly shine as stars, we love you all.

Noah Budin (Speed) is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, recording artist, actor, storyteller, program director, therapeutic laughter leader, and educator, and was one of the members of the Chicago based a capella music and comedy group “Four Guys Standing Around Singing.” Recently, Noah played the roles of Sal Antonucci and Vinnie Black in Tony ‘n’ Tina’s Wedding at the Hanna Theater, Lazar Wolf in Fiddler On The Roof at Cain Park, and Ira Zimmer in Brooklyn Boy for the JCC at CCC East. Noah has released two CDs and performs his original music around the country. For more information about Noah, visit www.noahbudin.com.

Alison Garrigan (Costume Design) is a professional costume designer whose work has been seen on a number of area stages, including Cleveland Public Theater, Dobama, Beck Center, The JCC Halle Theatre, John Carroll University, Cleveland Institute of Music Opera Stage, and Cleveland State University to name a very few. Some of her favorite production designs have included Man of La Mancha, Our Town, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, The Rocky Horror Show, Pulp, Urinetown, The Seagull, Jekyll and Hyde, The Diary of Anne Frank and The Alchemist. Also an actress, she was most recently seen as Mrs. Lovett in the critically acclaimed Lakeland production of Sweeney Todd. Cariad, Wolf.

Scott Hankins (Oscar Madison) Scott’s first acting experience was in kindergarten performing as a tree in Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Since then, his resume has included performances in God’s Favorite, Play It Again, Sam, Suddenly Last Summer, The Time of Your Life, Biloxi Blues, Small Craft Warnings and The Prisoner of Second Avenue. This is his second production of The Odd Couple, having previously played the role of Felix Ungar. It was during a production of Once Upon A Mattress that Scott met his wife to be, Melinda. In real life, Scott works as a shipping inspector for a biochemical company in Cleveland. In his spare time, Scott can be found fishing for largemouth bass with minimal success. Scott and Melinda live in Euclid with their two goldfish, Frankie and Dino.

Ben Needham (Scenic and Lighting Design) is excited to be working on this production of The Odd Couple after having previously designed FPAC’s Rent: School Edition, Joseph … Dreamcoat and Romeo and Juliet. Ben is the founder of Digital Squirrel Studio (www.digitalsquirrel.net) an animation, design & architectural illustration studio. Ben has designed over 190 productions for a number of organizations including productions for WVIZ/Ideastream, Geauga Lake, Virginia Musical Theatre, Signstage on Tour, Atlanta Lyric Theatre, Porthouse Theatre, LaGrange Opera, Olmsted Performing Arts, Augusta Players, Knoxville Opera, Lyric Opera of Cleveland, Beck Center for the Arts, the Fine Arts Association and Circle Theatre Orlando. Ben would like to thank Aaron, Helen and Christie for all their love and support.

Amy Pawlukiewicz (Cecily Pigeon) is thrilled to be in the first professional production of FPAC with such a wonderful cast! She currently works as an Actor-Teacher for Great Lakes Theater Festival. Some previous roles include Lila Green in A Loss of Roses, Kate Sullivan in Other Peoples’ Money, Stenographer in Waiting for Lefty, Rocky in The Rocky Horror Show and Sorel Bliss in Hay Fever. Amy originated the role of Tom in Maureen Johnson’s work Limbo which was recently published by Samuel French/Baker Plays. She has worked with many area theaters including The Cleveland Play House, Ensemble Theatre, Cleveland Public Theatre, Charenton Theatre, Lakeland Theatre, Red Hen Theatre, The Beck Center and Theater Ninjas. Amy is represented by The Talent Group.

Carla Petroski (Gwendolyn Pigeon) It has been too long since Carla worked with director, Fred Sternfeld, which was 14 years ago in the JCC Halle Theater JCC production of Beau Jest as Sarah Goldman. More recently she was seen as Martha in Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? for Ensemble Theatre at the Cleveland Playhouse. She played Sally Bowles in both I Am A Camera at the JCC and Cabaret at the Beck Center. Tony ‘N Tina’s Wedding at the Hanna Theater gave Carla the opportunity to play 7 different characters. She was also the first female member to perform at Cabaret Dada Improvisational Theater. Carla is a graduate of Cleveland State University and is a tax adviser with H&R Block.

Fred Sternfeld (Director – The Odd Couple / Artistic Director – FPAC) is widely represented on Northeast Ohio stages through diverse projects, garnering numerous honors and awards. A few representative credits: Ragtime, the musical and A Shayna Maidel at the JCC, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Of Mice and Men at Beck Center, The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek and The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife at Dobama, The Sound of Music and Fiddler on the Roof at Cain Park and This Is How It Goes at Bang and Clatter. At FPAC he recently directed Joseph … Dreamcoatand will be directing a teen production of Into the Woods in July of 2009. He previously served as Artistic Director at Lakewood Little Theatre / Beck Center for the Arts and the Seattle, Dallas & Cleveland Jewish Community Centers. Fred also is the founder and administrator of NEohioPAL (Northeast Ohio Performing Arts List), an online email newsletter. For more information about Fred you can visit his website at www.fredsternfeld.com.

Bobby Thomas (Murray) Former Cleveland radio personality, Bobby Thomas, is a professional voiceover and commercial actor with hundreds of local, regional and national commercial credits in a career that spans nearly 30 years. Bobby has performed a variety of roles in Community Theater productions in Cleveland and Connecticut. His favorite performances include creating a wide variety of heroes and villains in live stage recreations of old-time radio broadcasts of the 30’s and 40’s. This is Bobby’s first production for FPAC , and he is excited to be working with such a talented director and cast. Bobby and his wife, Mary Linda, have three daughters and live in Solon.

David Tilk (Technical Director) is pleased to be working for the first time with the Fairmount Performing Arts Conservatory on The Odd Couple. Dave has 18 years experience as theatre technician working for a number of theaters in Cleveland and surrounding areas. Dave has had the opportunity to work in a variety of educational settings as well as legit theatre. Recent shows include Mandel Jewish Community Center: Jolson and Company, Brooklyn Boy, A Shayna Maidel, Cleveland Heights; Opera Cleveland; A Little Night Music; Cleveland Public Theatre: Nickel and Dimed, A Bright Room Called Day, Uncle Tom’s Cabin; Cain Park: Harold and Maude, Oliver, The Wiz, Kiss Me Kate; Magical Theatre, Barberton: Holes, Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Secret Life of Girls, Lincoln, Princess and the Pea, Miss Nelson is Missing, Frog and Toad.

Brian Zoldessy (Felix) is Associate Professor and Director of the Theatre Arts Department at Cuyahoga Community College; he was the first non-tenured professor to receive Tri-C’s prestigious Ralph M. Besse Award for Teaching Excellence. As a professional actor, Brian has worked in New York, L.A., Chicago, and Cleveland (ART, Crossing Delancey, Awake and Sing, Talley’s Folly, Down The Road, Forty Deuce, Seedfolks, To Know Him, I Ought To Be In Pictures, The Boys Next Door, Modern Orthodox, Cleveland Heights) and has appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, in television and films, having worked with: Kevin Bacon, Matthew Broderick, John Travolta, Fisher Stevens, Woody Allen, Eli Wallach and the late, great, Jack Gilford. Additionally, Brian performed stand-up comedy at many of New York’s famous comedy clubs, including, The Improvisation, Catch A Rising Star, and Dangerfield’s. A winner of the Kennedy Center’s Irene Ryan Acting and Directing Award, he has directed over 60 productions. Other awards include: Outstanding Direction: Brooklyn Boy (CCC/JCC), Young Lady From Rwanda (CCC/Dobama); Outstanding Performance: To Know Him (JCC), The Boys Next Door (Porthouse Theatre), Outstanding Production of the Year: Rwanda (CCC/Dobama), Tri-C’s Dean’s Award of Excellence (Outstanding Contributions to the College and the Theatre Arts Department). Recently, Ohio Magazine andCrain’s Cleveland Business selected Brian as one of Ohio’ top theatre educators. Brian also coaches many Cleveland performers and prepares many High School seniors for their college theatre arts auditions. He is the author of The Theatre Appreciation Workbook: Exercises and Activities.