The Best Man
Written By: Gore Vidal
Directed by: Marc Malley
Produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service
Run of Show
“The Best Man” ran January 12 – 27, 2007.
Synopsis
The New York Post describes the plot as follows: “…William Russell, the ex-Secretary of State, is a wit and scholar with high liberal principles, beloved of the eggheads and suspected by practical politicians. Joseph Cantwell is a ruthless and hard-driving young man, a dirty fighter who will let no scruples stand in the way of his ambitions. And Arthur Hockstader is an ex-President, who loves politics for their own sake, admires a rough-and-tumble battle more than a chivalrous one, and is determined to have the final say in the selection of his party’s candidate…The ruthless young man has got hold of papers indicating that his rival once suffered from a mental crackup, which he is all set to use. Then his scrupulous antagonist comes across some incriminating evidence about Cantwell, which he is loath to produce. The scruples don’t appeal to the ex-President, who enjoys seeing the boys fight. All of this provides the framework for some vivid and interesting scenes in which Mr. Vidal contrasts the minds, emotions and fighting spirits of the two candidates…”
Program
The Program for this show can be viewed by clicking The Best Man. (Requires Adobe Reader)
The People …
Leading Roles
in order of appearance
| Fmr. Sec. of State William Russell | Norb Mills |
| Alice Russell | Jean Mills |
| Dick Jensen | Pat Mahoney |
| Catherine | Kara Ayers |
| Sen. Joseph Cantwell | Ben Lumbrezer |
| Mabel Cantwell | Suzanne Jennens |
| Don Blades | Charles Crockett |
| Ex-President Arthur Hockstader | Paul Palmisano |
| Mrs. Sue-Ellen Gamadge | Diana West |
| Sen. Clyde Carlin | John Henry |
| Dr. Artinian | Nicholas Aharon Boggioni |
| Sheldon Marcus | Brad Riker |
| 1st Reporter & Delegate | Chris Hall |
| 2nd Reporter & Delegate | Megan Ray |
| 3rd Reporter & Delegate | Frank Venda |
| 4th Reporter & Delegate | Kara Ayers |
| 5th Reporter & Delegate | Brandon Ware |
Program Staff
| Director | Marc Malley |
| Producer | Jean Mills |
| Set Design | John van der Meer |
| Stage Managers | Judson Lohman & Paige Price |
| Lighting Designer | Dan Finkel |
| Lighting Crew | Sue Dessner & Jeff Mills |
| Costume Design | Christine Youngs |
| Property Masters | Sue Dennis |
| Property Crew | Ernie Brown, Jean Brown, Robert Ingram , & Wendy Speiser |
| Set Construction | John Henry, John van der Meer, Steve Mierzejewski, Norb Mills, Bob Smith, & Don Weber |
| Set Dressing | Jean Mills & Brad Riker |
| Scenic Art | Derek Hansen, Judson Lohman, Megan Ray, Brad Riker & Brandon Ware |
| Sound Design | Don Weber |
| Sound Crew | Derek Hansen & Alison Stark |
| Program | Laura Ahrens, Jake Gordy & Frank Venda |
| Program Art & Cover Design | H.O.T. Graphics |
| House Manager | Ann Veasey |
| Box Office | Ann Veasey |
| Box Office Staff | Kimberley Bruggemann, Sandy Fry, Darlene Hatfield, Barbara Heindel, Sue Holliger, Carol Hojnacki, Rita Konecki, Debbie Krieger, Diane Nowakowski, Jinny Patterson, & Judy Wiederhold |
| Program Printing | The Copy Center |
| Marquee Signs | Larry Janney & Norb Mills |
| Theatre Photographer | Frank Venda |
| Special Thanks | Children’s Theatre Workshop, Kevin Charles Hair Artistry, Maumee High School Drama Department, WNWO TV, NBC 24, Political Posters Courtesy of Mike Orra of CAD Graphics, Inc. |
The Show!
Setting: A presidential convention in Philadelphia, 1960.
Act I
Scene 1. A Sheraton Hotel suite.
Scene 2. Senator Joseph Cantwell’s suite. The same evening.
Scene 3. William Russell’s suite. The following morning.
Act II
Scene 1. Cantwell suite. A few minutes later
Scene 2. Russell suite. A few minutes later.
Scene 3. Cantwell suite. A few minutes later.
Scene 4. Russell suite. The next morning.