On Stage Sept. 2 -27, 2008; Press Opening is Sept. 5

Act II Playhouse opens its 10th anniversary season with the award-winning comedy Stones in His Pockets, on stage Sept. 2-27. William Roudebush directs this two-hander by Irish playwright Marie Jones, which sees the return of Philadelphia performers Tony Braithwaite and Chris Faith.

Winner of London's Olivier Award winner for Best Comedy in 2001, Jones' hyperkinetic Broadway hit satirically chronicles the making of a big-budget Hollywood movie in a provincial Irish village. In sidesplitting and chameleon-like fashion, two exceptionally gifted performers play an entire cast of eccentric characters- from the film's spoiled American starlet to the star-struck locals in a show The Guardian calls "a moving and heartfelt tribute to the imaginative power of live performance."

"Stones in His Pockets is brilliantly written," said Roudebush, "which is always the decision-maker for me. I also love a play that makes you laugh and has an emotional impact. This is a great combination for all audiences. It's also a tour-de-force for two actors, and I am fortunate to have Tony and Chris," added Roudebush, who has directed numerous times at Act II, the last show being Closer Than Ever in spring of 2006.

Faith, who plays eight characters, made an immediate connection to the play when he read it. "For me, the play celebrates the theatre as the supreme storytelling medium and the art of acting as the strongest tool in the box for getting its story told," said Faith.

When Braithwaite heard that Act II was producing the play, he jumped at the chance to perform. "I first saw Stones in His Pockets with my parents in Delaware in 2004 and was blown away," said Braithwaite. "It's riotously funny, poignant and deeply theatrical in the best sense. I remember saying to my parents at that time, 'I've got to do this play someday.'"

Braithwaite is elated that that chance comes on the Act II stage. "Act II Playhouse holds a very special place in my heart. It's been home to me for many of my favorite roles, including Boyd in The Big Bang and George Burns in Say Goodnight Gracie."

Added Faith: "Act II is the perfect venue for Stones in His Pockets. There is a deeply rooted relationship here between the audience and the cast. The intimacy of the space at Act II is a huge asset for everyone involved. The energy I feel between me and the audience keeps me excited to return." Faith also teamed up with Braithwaite at Act II in the 2005 production of Good Evening, based on skits from the British comedy team of Peter Cook and Dudley Moore.

The production team includes set designer Dirk Durossett, costume designer Millie Hiibel, lighting designer Melissa Guyer, and sound designer Mark Valenzuela.

The final dress rehearsal of Stones in His Pockets will be open to the public on Sunday, Aug. 31, at 2 p.m. Suggested donation is $10, and all contributions will be donated to the Hibernian Hunger Project, a community service program that feeds needy people in the Philadelphia/Camden area.

Three preview performances will be held Sept. 2-4, with tickets discounted at $25. Talkbacks will be held after the first two 8 p.m. preview nights, as well as on Thursday, Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 21 at 2 p.m. Opening night is Sept. 5, followed by a reception. All evening performances are at 8 p.m., and matinees begin at 2 p.m. on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Tickets are $25 for all Wednesday-Thursday performances and $30 for Friday through Sunday shows, with discounts available for groups of 10 or more. Tickets are available by calling the Act II Box Office at (215) 654-0200 or online at www.act2.org.

ABOUT ACT II PLAYHOUSE
Act II Playhouse, a 130-seat professional theatre in Ambler, PA, is committed to creating world-class theatre in a venue whose intimacy draws audiences and actors into dynamic interrelation. We produce new, classic, and contemporary plays and musicals that reflect the highest artistic standards, and seek to maintain an environment in which talented artists can do their best work. Act II Playhouse is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and operates under an SPT (Small Professional Theater) agreement with the Actors' Equity Association. Bud Martin is Producing Artistic Director of Act II Playhouse and Harriet Power is Associate Artistic Director. Stephen Blumenthal is Founding Artistic Director.

ARTISTIC PROFILES

TONY BRAITHWAITE (Jake Quinn et al.) was last seen at Act II Playhouse as George Burns in Say Goodnight Gracie. Other Act II performances include Schrodinger's Girlfriend, Good Evening, and his Barrymore-Award winning turn as Boyd in The Big Bang, a role he performed over 100 times: in Ambler, at The Kimmel, and in Chicago. Tony has performed in 7 holiday shows for 1812 Productions, and will appear in their This Is The Week That Is: Election Edition in October. Tony has also worked with Philadelphia Theatre Company, Arden Theatre Company, Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festivals, Montgomery Theatre, and others. Television work includes playing himself as an acting coach on MTV's reality show, "Made. Tony will play Felix Unger -his dream role - in The Odd Couple at The Kimmel Center in February, and will perform his popular one-man show, "Look Mom, I'm Swell!" on the Act II stage in December. Currently, Tony is directing his 29th production at his beloved alma mater, St. Joe's Prep.

CHRIS FAITH (Charlie Conlon et al.) is pleased to return to Act II, having co-starred with Mr. Braithwaite once before in Good Evening and later performing in Rodgers' Romance. Chris has appeared Off-Broadway in The Secret Garden and Like It Is at the York Theatre. He is a three-time Barrymore Award nominee and co-hosted the awards ceremony last year. Regionally, he was a part of the original cast of Professional Skepticism at the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre, which was featured in American Theatre magazine and published in Smith and Kraus' Best Plays of 2002. Chris also performed opposite Broadway star Linda Eder in the new musical, The Seduction of Sheila Valentine, directed by Vince Marini, music by Jack Murphy, which is still in the works for a Broadway run. Locally, he has performed at the Wilma, the Arden, 1812 Productions, Luna Theatre (voted Best Actor Grace 2007-08 season by Philadelphia Weekly), Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Bristol Riverside Theatre, Mum Puppettheatre and will appear this winter in Cinderella for the People's Light and Theatre Company.

WILLIAM ROUDEBUSH (Director) has been directing for over thirty years at such theatres as Actors Theatre of Louisville, The Cleveland Play House, Syracuse Stage Company, Theatre Virginia, The GeVa Theatre, Walnut Street Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre, Mum Puppettheatre , The Miami and Palm Beach Opera Guilds, and many others. In New York he was artistic director for the Ten More By Noonan series at the John Houseman Theatre, as well as directing for Ensemble Studio Theatre, The American Folk Theatre, The Mint Theatre Company, The Actors Outlet, Pulse Ensemble Theatre, The Samuel Beckett Theatre and the Village Gate, where he researched his new musical Village Gate Follies. Bill has been based in Philadelphia for the past 12 years, where he works as a freelance director/writer. His 2002 revival of Equus was nominated for eight Barrymore awards and won five including Best Overall Production of a play, Best Ensemble and Best Director. He adapted and directed a new musical based on the works of singer/songwriter Harry Chapin called Remember When the Music, which played for six sold-out weeks at Act II Playhouse. Bill is also an educator, having taught at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, The University of Memphis, The University of the Arts, Virginia Commonwealth University, along with being Theatre School Director for the Walnut Street Theatre for four years. He is currently director of musical theatre for the Performing Arts Institute in Kingston, Pa. His book Acting By Mistake is available through www.xlibris.com.