FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…June 22, 2003
Contact David Turner 518-798-7479

Adirondack Theatre Festival presents East Coast premiere of musical comedy BINGO July 2-13.

Cast of seven include Broadway veterans of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER, PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, LES MISERABLES, A CHORUS LINE, and LA CAGE AUX FOLLES

Musical plays at Church of the Messiah Parish House,

296 Glen St. in downtown Glens Falls,
one block north of the former Woolworths

The Adirondack Theatre Festival’s “Theater in All Directions” season continues with BINGO, a hilarious musical comedy set in a small town Bingo hall. ATF will present the show in the assembly room of the Church of the Messiah’s Parish House in downtown Glens Falls in an environmental production where the audience will all take part in several games of Bingo and win actual prizes each night.  The production runs July 2,3,5,6, 8-12 all at 8pm and July 13 at 3pm.  Tickets are $22 and can be ordered by calling 518-798-7479.

BINGO tells the story of Vern, Patsy, Honey, and Bernice: four women who will drive through hurricanes, tear down doors, and end lifelong friendships all in the name of their weekly bingo game.  They are joined by Minnie who runs the bingo, Alison, a young woman who is new in town, and Sam who tries to keep the game together.  BINGO is written by the team of Michael Heitzman, Ilene Reid, and David Holcenberg who have previously collaborated with each other on different projects but BINGO marks the first collaboration for the three of them.  BINGO was previously produced at the Hermosa Beach Playhouse in Los Angeles and the Ordway Theater in St. Paul.  “The previous productions have been in conventional theaters”, says author Michael Heitzman,“ and we see this as a great opportunity to do more of an environmental production which will involve the audience and be a ton of fun.”

BINGO is directed by Glenn Casale, a native of Beacon, NY who now resides in Los Angeles and has directed for theater and television across the country.  His credits include the Tony-nominated Broadway production of PETER PAN starring Cathy Rigby, ANYTHING GOES with Rachel York, Sally Struthers, and Fred Willard,  BALLROOM starring Tyne Daly and Charles Durning, and COMPANY starring Carol Burnett.

BINGO’s cast of seven include Lisa Asher as Minnie/Joan, who has appeared ATF’s Late Night Cabaret Series in the summer of 2000 as well as a featured performing in this years ATF Winter Fundraiser “Saturday in the 70’s.” The cast continues with Stacia Fernandez as Honey, who has been seen in the Broadway companies of SWING!, THE SCARELET PIMPERNEL, and as Mrs. Potts in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Lori Fischer returns to ATF in the role of Patsy after premiering her one-woman show BARBARA’S BLUE KITCHEN in 2000. Playing the role of Bernice is Jan Leigh Herndon who has appeared on Broadway as Sheila in A CHORUS LINE and also in LA CAGE AUX FOLLIES.  Beth Malone stars as Alison, a role she originated in the West Coast production of BINGO at the Hermosa Beach Playhouse, and also at the Ordway in St. Paul. Liz McCartney takes on the role of Vern after appearing in such Broadway and touring show like LES MISERABLES, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, and THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. Completing the cast of BINGO is Kilty Reidy starring as Sam/Frank. Reidy’s past credit include KING OF HEARTS at the Goodspeed Opera House and CRAZY FOR YOU at the Paper Mill Playhouse/PBS Great Performances.

Leading BINGO’s three piece band will be David Truskinoff who returns  to ATF after conduction GUYS ON ICE last summer.  BINGO’s designers include Lauren Helpern (Scenic Designer) whose work has been seen in DRAGAPELLA (Upstairs at Studio 54); FOUR (Manhattan Theatre Club) and in Las Vegas BLUE MAN GROUP/LIVE AT LUXOR. Traci Klainer (Lighting Designer) whose works have been seen in the Broadway production of PRUNE DANISH starring Jackie Mason and LET ME SING co-produced by Gerorge Street Playhouse and Charlotte Repertory Theatre. Rounding out the Designers is TJ McEvoy (Sound Designer) who is returning for his third season after working on ATF’s GUYS ON ICE, FISHWRAP, and CHRYSALIS. 

The Adirondack Theatre Festival’s ninth season will run June18 – July 27, at venues throughout the Glens Falls/Lake George region. Tickets for BINGO are $22. Tickets can be ordered by calling 798-7479, mailing checks to ATF, PO Box 3203, Glens Falls, NY 12801, or going to www. ATFestival.org.