Laughter to Fill Park Square Theatre this Summer
Apr 11, 2012

For a summer evening filled with wacky fun, colorful characters and classic Catskills humor, Park Square Theatre offers its first Neil Simon play, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, a semi-autobiographical romp behind the scenes at the fictional 1950s "Max Prince Show." As they zing one-liners, the comedy writers work to outshine each other while Max worries about the network executives and the future of his television show.

The winner of innumerable awards, from Emmys, Tonys, Golden Globes, Drama Desk and the Pulitzer Prize, to the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, Neil Simon is known as one of the funniest playwrights of our time. He began his career writing for Sid Caesar's "Your Show of Shows," and he worked with many of the most humorous people of his generation: Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Sid Caesar and Larry Gelbart, to name just a few. He's used these real-life funny men to create his fictionalized characters in Laughter on the 23rd Floor.

"This cast is one of the most brilliantly funny groups of people I have ever had the thrill to work with," says director Zach Curtis, who has gathered together some of the best comedic actors in the Twin Cities to bring Laughter on the 23rd Floor to life on Park Square's stage. Ari Hoptman plays Ira, an annoying hypochondriac, whose real life inspiration was Mel Brooks; Karen Wiese-Thompson is Carol, the lone female writer, inspired by Selma Diamond; Milt, whose inspiration was Carl Reiner, is played by Eric Webster; the role of Lucas, the young, new writer joining the team-reflecting Simon's own experience-is filled by John Catron. Bob Malos is Val, a Russian emigre; Randy Funk is Brian, who dreams of Hollywood; and Katherine Tieben is the overworked secretary, Helen. The role of Kenny, nicknamed "the Genius," whose real life counterpart was Larry Gelbart, is played by Craig Johnson-in his 50th appearance on Park Square's Stage. The man they all write for, Max himself-inspired by Sid Caesar and Jackie Gleason-is played by Michael Paul Levin.

"There's something wonderfully raw and honest about this script-a comic's desperation, the need for approval -a drive that all theater artists have," Curtis continues. "Simon cuts right to the bone, and then covers it up, as so many comedians do, with an arsenal of jokes and retorts."

Joining director Curtis, the artistic production team includes Michael Hoover (Scenic Designer), A. Emily Heaney (Costume Designer), Michael P. Kittel (Lighting Designer), Katharine Horowitz (Sound Designer), Kirby Moore (Properties Designer) and Jamie J. Kranz (Stage Manager).

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