Some of the pictures are very hard to get a good scan of. If you have any photos, please contact the webmaster through the Contact link. What we have tried to do is capture the feel of the play - not necessarily the ability to identify individual actors.
A Thousand Clowns
Fine Arts, County of Effingham, is preparing its next presentation, a dinner theater production of "A Thousand; Clowns." The play will be performed Friday, March 4, and Saturday, March 5, at the Holiday Inn.
As is usual with the organization's dinner theater productions, reservations must be made in advance. There will be no tickets sold at the door. Tickets are $12.50 per person, and will include the New York strip steak dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the play at 8 p.m. Seating will be limited. Reservations may be made by calling 342-6262.
The three-act play by Herb Gardner revolves around Murray Burns, a one-time children's show writer. Living with him is his young nephew, Nick, who is the more mature of the two. The play opens with the visit of two social workers to Murray's apartment after they learn that Nick, abandoned by his mother, is living with his unemployed uncle - something that may not be suitable and stable enough for a 12-year-old.
FACE officials note that there are situations and language of an adult nature in "A Thousand Clowns," and that the performance would not be suitable for children.
Directing the play will be Laurie Arnold, who directed "The Mousetrap" last May and has performed in the group's plays.
Leading the cast is Mike Hindman, another veteran FACE performer, as the main character, Murray Burns. His most recent performance was in "See How They Run" in October. He was also in "The Mousetrap" and several melodramas.
The part of Nick Burns has been given to two young performers, one of whom will perform the first night of the play and the other on the second night. They are Noel Bush and Patrick Barns.
Cast as the two social workers are Linda Marxmann and Don Polk, both of whom have been seen in FACE productions.
The part of Murray's older brother, Arnold, is being played by Mike Sehy, best known for his portrayal of Scrooge in FACE'S "A Christmas Carol."
Tim Davis rounds out the cast as Leo Herman, the host of the children's show for which Murray used to write. Davis has appeared in many FACE productions, most recently "See How They Run" and "The Mousetrap."
A Thousand Clowns
A Comedy in Three Acts
Directed by Laurie Arnold
CAST (in order of their appearance)
Murray Burns ------ Michael Hindman
Nick Burns ------ Noel Bush And Patrick Barns
Albert Amundson ------ Donald Polk
Sandra Markowitz ------ Linda Marxmann
Arnold Burns ------ Michael Sehy
Leo Herman ------ Tim Davis
"Bubbles" appears through special arrangement with the Windsor Theatre Group, St. Louis, E/E Stewart, Directors.
Synopsis of Scenes Act I
Murray Burns' apartment, Manhattan, eight o'clock in the morning, the present.
Act II
Scene 1: Murray Burns' apartment, eight o'clock the following morning. Scene 2: Arnold Burns' office, later that afternoon. Scene 3: Murray Burns' apartment, early that evening.
Act III Murray Burns' apartment, half an hour later.
There will be a ten minute intermission between acts.
Acknowledgements
Set Construction ------ Russ Kelley, Bob Cox, Cast, Friends Of F.A.C.E.
Lights ------ Russ Kelley
Properties ------ Nicole Barns
Program Cover Design ------ Sheryl Painter
Publicity ------ Cindy Borsch
Make-Up ------ Wendy Dust
Photography ------ Carol Hindman
Programs ------ Nancy Slingerland, Charlene Irwin
F.A.C.E. wishes to thank the following for their generosity
Effingham Daily News Greg Sapp WCRA/WCRC, Effingham Holiday Inn, World Color Press Inc., Helen Mathes Library
Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Ltd.
Use of "Yes Sir, That's My Baby" with permission from the Bourne Co., New York.