[Capdist-announce] "THE ROYAL FAMILY" NEXT WEEK AT SCP!!!

[jwmhickman at nycap.rr.com]

ROYAL FAMILY OPENS NEXT WEEK AT SCHENECTADY CIVIC PLAYHOUSE!!!

SCHENECTADY -- George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber's classic comedy, The Royal Family, opens Friday, December 2, and runs through Sunday, December 11, at Schenectady Civic Players’ 12 South Church Street playhouse in Schenectady's historic Stockade district.   This second main-stage production of Schenectady Civic's 84th season is directed by Jeffrey Scott.

The Royal Family , a thinly-veiled portrait of the legendary Barrymores, portrays another renowned "Royal Family of Broadway", the Cavendish clan, comprised of three generations of legendary American actors: dowager Fanny Cavendish (Joanne Westervelt) widow of the premier actor of his day, who at seventy is planning an upcoming tour; brother Herbert (Richard Michael Roe), a histrionic player now in his decline; Fanny's daughter Julie (Benita Zahn), at the height of her Broadway fame; and son Tony (Randy McConnach), who has forsaken the stage for Hollywood. Heralding the third generation of players, Julie's daughter Gwen (Stephanie Insogna) is just beginning a promising ingenue career. When Tony rushes home only to flee to Europe, escaping the attentions of a Polish movie star, and Gwen shocks the family by marrying a "non-professional," it seems the Cavendish name and reputation is threatened. Through it all, Fanny rules with a combination of strength, wit, courage, and a sharp tongue, proving that the "show" indeed, "must (and will) go on"  

The original 1927 Broadway production ran for 345 performances. The Royal Family was recently revived on Broadway in 2010, and was performed by Schenectady Civic Players in 1977.  In that production, Joanne Westervelt, the dowager mother of the current production, played daughter Julie. Kaufman and Ferber’s other famed collaborations were Dinner at Eight and Stage Door.  

Making up the cast of veterans and newcomers to Schenectady Civic’s stage are: Jean T. Carney, James Dick, Richard Harte, Pat Hoffman, Lonnie Honsinger, Stephanie G. Insogna, John Massaroni, Randy McConnach, John J. Quinan, Richard Michael Roe, Joanne Westervelt, Bryant Williams and Benita Zahn. 

 The Royal Family  plays Friday, Saturday and Sunday (December 2, 3 and 4) and Wednesday through Sunday (December 7 - 11).  Wednesday and Thursday curtains are at 7:30 pm; Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm; and Sundays are matinees only at 2:30 pm.  For tickets at $15 each, call 382-2081. Or order on-line at www.civicplayers.org

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