For Immediate Release: August 30, 2005
Media Contact: Ted Taylor, Act II Playhouse, 215.576.7212

Act II Playhouse in Ambler, PA will launch their seventh season as Montgomery County's premier professional theatre in September and present five plays beginning September 16, 2005 and concluding on June 11, 2006. Artistic Director Stephen Blumenthal, sums up the season by promising that "there will be something here for everyone."

The first play of Act II's new season, beginning with previews on September 16, will be Good Evening by Peter Cook and Dudley Moore. This hilarious British comedy showcases the comic genius of these two legendary performers, turns the clock back to 1973 when the duo took Broadway by storm and recreates such classics as "The One Legged Tarzan", a Homosexual Othello, a take-off in the Nativity, the peruils of running a two-course restaurant on the Moors and "The Frog and Peach" and much more. The play stars Tony Braithwaite and Chris Faith and is directed by Peter Pryor.

Next will be Alan Bennett's very funny and touching play The Lady in the Van". Beginning on November 11 this play, a co-production with Mum Puppettheatre, is set in 1974 and is the true story of what happens when Homeless Mary Sheppard drives her van in to the playwright's driveway and remains there for the next 15 years. This show will be directed by Robert Smythe, Mum's founding artistic director, and be a combination of live actors and puppets.

The third play will be "Pete 'n' Keely" a musical comedy by James Hindman. The play is set in 1968 when Pete Bartel and Keely Stevens, a combination of Steve and Eydie, Sonny and Cher and even a touch of Lucy and Desi, were a hugely popular singing duo in the late 50's and early 60's and now they have been re-united. It's five years after a nasty break-up at Caesar's Palace and they find themselves in Las Vegas on NBC for a live TV show - and they haven't spoken since they split. You can only imagine what happens next.

Following that will by a romantic play Syncopation by Allan Knee opening with previews on March 10. The story is set in 1911 when a 38-year-old Jewish meat packer in New York City decides that he really wants to be a Ballroom Dancer and places an ad for a partner. The woman, Anna, who answers his ad is 23. And then things really get interesting as every dance-filled scene chronicles their subtly transforming relationship against the larger political backdrop of the times.

The final offering of the season is the musical Closer than Ever by renowned composers Richard Maltby and David Shire. The time is anytime, the music is glorious with 24 funny, wise and witty "songs of experience" as the play opens endless doors with looks at mid life crisis, exercise, unrequited love, working couples, second marriages and about anything else that people find themselves being preoccupied with. The play opens with previews on May 12.

Season and individual tickets are now on sale. Ticket prices are scaled according to the selected performance and a "Tuesday Night Special" package including dinner at five local restaurants is also in the mix for the coming season. For additional information call 215-654-0200, visit the box office at 56 E. Butler Avenue in Ambler, PA during business hours, or on the Internet at www.act2.org.

For additional media information - Ted Taylor, 215-576-7212

PRESS CREDENTIALS FOR OPENING NIGHT PERFORMANCES SHOULD ALWAYS BE REQUESTED DIRECTLY THROUGH THE BOX OFFICE - 215-654-0200.

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