The 'Best Man' Closing Weekend - Canceled Due to Power Outage

Hello All,

Due to loss of power at The Summit Playhouse, we have to cancel the last two performances of The Best Man (Friday, November 2 & Saturday, November 3). 

Information regarding reimbursement will be availabe on our website www.summitplayhouse.org in the coming days.  We apologize for any inconvenience.

Now, I was planning on posting cast interviews this past week, but with Sandy's approach (and impact), most of the cast was unable to email their answers to me.

Below are two interviews, because I promised they would be published. Thank you to Michael & Hank for participating.

Name: Michael King

Where are you from: New Providence

Character: Russell

3 words to describe your character: Ethical, honorable, flawed.

Why did you want to be in The Best Man: Good script, beautifully written dialogue, strong opportunity for an actor.

Why should people come to see The Best Man: Rewarding theatrical experience: substantive play, well produced and still relevant. And a good story.

Name: Hank Barre

Where are you from: Basking Ridge

Character: Ex President Art Hockstader

3 words to describe your character: Strong, Manipulative, Determined

What, if any, parallels are there between you and your character: Not sure where the character and I overlap.  We both like to be "life of the party" and in control.  Hockstader is certainly an "actor" in his own right and we share that trait.

Why did you want to be in The Best Man: I appreciate the the play as it is as politically relevant today as it was when written in 1960 and satires the people and the process through which we find our leaders and lets the audience draw their own conclusions about what is right, wrong or otherwise.  I have enjoyed the opportunities Summit Playhouse has given me to play strong characters in crisis including "Big Daddy", Joe Keller inAll My Sons and now Ex-President Art Hockstader.  He is terminally ill but determined to have an impact on the convention and the race for President.  All of the characters I have been fortunate enough to portray at Summit Playhouse have had to deal with their accomplishments, failures and impending mortality in their own way which is enjoyable for audiences and fascinating for me to explore.

Would you ever want to be a campaign manager or run for an elected office and why (not): I would prefer to be the candidate rather than the campaign manager.  The process is a lot like theater and all actors think they can direct.

What, if any, differences do you see from The Best Man and the current election: The obvious distinction from the current election is that today our candidates are essentially chosen before the conventions and conventions are primarily theater for the masses.  Further, the modern 24 hour news cycle and the fact that no information is sacred to the media anymore might have revealed the "secrets" about the candidates long before.  

Why should people come to see The Best Man: The Best Man is well written theater, performed by a talented cast, directed by an insightful director and what more could you ask.

Our hearts go out to all who have been affected by Hurricane Sandy.  Especially those who lost more than power and the contents of their refrigerator.

A parting thought: We're not "Jersey Strong" for nothing ;)