9th, 10th, 11th and 12th of May 2012

at the West Side Studio

Business Lunch at the Russian Tea Room

by Christopher Durang

Summary

Chris, a writer, has a business meeting at the Russian Tea Room with a new Hollywood hotshot, Melissa Stearn. At the Tea Room, Melissa pitches insane ideas to Chris, who really just can’t wait to leave the meeting. A comical look at the Hollywood machine through the eyes of an over the top script developer and a struggling New York writer. The audience will howl as Chris helps Melissa make some of her characters come alive in this fun filled parody by Christopher Durang.

About the author

CHRISTOPHER DURANG is a playwright whose plays include A History of the American Film (Tony

nomination, Best Book of a Musical, 1978), The Actor’s Nightmare, Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You (Obie award; off-Bway run 1981-83), Beyond Therapy (on Broadway in 1982, with Dianne Wiest and John Lithgow), Baby with the Bathwater (Playwrights Horizons, 1983), The Marriage of Bette and Boo (Public Theatre, 1985; Obie award, Dramatists Guild Hull Warriner Award), Laughing Wild (Playwrights Horizons, 1987), Durang/Durang (an evening of six plays at Manhattan Theatre Club, 1994, including the Tennessee Williams’ parody, For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls), Sex and Longing (Lincoln Center Theatre production at the Cort Theatre, 1996, starring Sigourney Weaver), and Betty’s Summer Vacation (Playwrights Horizons, 1999; Obie award).

Durang is also a performer, and acted with E. Katherine Kerr in the N.Y. premiere of Laughing Wild, and with Jean Smart in the L.A. production. He shared in an acting ensemble Obie for The Marriage of Bette and Boo; and with John Augustine and Sherry Anderson has performed his crackpot cabaret Chris Durang and Dawne at the Criterion Center, Caroline’s Comedy Club, Williamstown Summer Cabaret, and the Triad, winning a 1996 Bistro Award.

In movies, he has appeared in The Secret of My Success, Mr. North, The Butcher’s Wife, Housesitter, and The Cowboy Way, among others.

He has a B.A. from Harvard College, and an M.F.A. in Playwriting from Yale School of Drama.

Cast

Chris, a playwright - Carlo Ghisi

Margaret, his agent - Claudia Tranquilli

Waiter - Asha Parmar

Melissa Stearn - Hayley Letori

Patrick- Daniel Lakey

Moishe - Michael Morgan

Directed by Bonnie Smith

Crew for both shows

Assistant Director Melanie Zander

Stage Manager Mark Grundy

Stage Crew Ulrike Johnstone, Andrew Johnstone, Michael Hawkshaw, Rauno Ots

Lights & Sound Mark Grundy, Melanie Zander

Set Construction Nigel Link et al

Make-up Carlo Ghisi

Poster & Program Bruno Sousa

Costumes & Props Moira Grundy, Bonnie Smith, Bruno Sousa & cast

Ticket Sales Members of the Theatre Group

Performance - FEATS in Antwerpen