Katonah Classic Stage Gives the Mic to Public Servants in New Play

It isn’t uncommon to see a city or state official on stage speaking to an audience. What is uncommon is to see them on stage as part of a Neil Simon play. But this is how Katonah Classic Stage (KCS) is flipping the script on April 8. That night, several public servants and elected officials will take to the podium; but this time it will be for a comedic stage reading of The Prisoner of Second Ave.

Town of Bedford Councilperson Bobbi Bittker will be among those reading: “This production is unique because it gives the public a relaxed look at public servants who they know in traditionally serious roles doing something that is fun and comical… This is a fun way to bring us even closer to our community.”

Other readers include New York State Senator Peter Harckham; Bedford Town Councilperson Stephanie McCaine; Westchester County Executive George Latimer; Bedford Town Supervisor Ellen Calves; KCS Board member Sam Morell; Westchester County Legislator Erika Pierce; New York Assistant Attorney General Larry Reina; and Bedford Town Justice Jodi Kimmel.

But KCS Artistic Director Trent Dawson wants to be clear: “I am apolitical. I’m not trying to make a statement about having red ties or blue ties with this play. The theater has no affiliation.”

“I really want people to just come and have fun laughing at their public officials,” he adds with a laugh.

The 1975 play by Simon, which was made popular through a movie starring Jack Lemmon and Anne Bancroft, tells the story of Mel Edison, an unemployed man who is short on money and patience, and is trapped in his New York City apartment with his wife, Edna.

As Dawson points out, this type of scenario may seem familiar to a modern-day audience after sheltering in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is why, once the public servants concept was born, he got to work. After looking at options from Aristophanes to Gore Vidal, it dawned on him that “people want something that is very funny, has a bunch of one-liners and is relatable.”

Legislator Erika Pierce says that she is “beyond thrilled to be even a small player in one of Katonah Classic Stage’s productions,” and adds that she expects this show to be “all sorts of fun, both to be in and to watch.”

Senator Peter Harckham adds: “The arts are a vital component of our communities, bringing us together and providing enrichment, enlightenment and entertainment. That’s why I applaud the Katonah Classic Stage for its new production and look forward to participating in this true community theater.”

A lineup of music stands adorned with the characters’ names will help audiences to follow along as multiple readers play each character. KCS Executive Director Sharron Kearney explains that this is so no one has to carry the whole weight of the play on their own. “It also gives the audience a unique perspective into the audition and rehearsal process because each actor will inject their own flavor to their characters.”

This play at the Bedford Hills Community Center will be the company’s last event before moving into its new home as the professional-theater-in-residence at the Whippoorwill Theater in Armonk later this spring.  Its first show there will be Later Life, opening April 27.

The idea for the residence came from Denise Bessette, one of the founders of the Whippoorwill’s prior resident company, Hudson Stage Company (HSC). Says Kearney: “At the time, we were very much a migratory theater company. We were going wherever the venues were… and having to import things like lighting and a soundboard… This seemed like a great way to create a permanent home, and it’s a state-of-the-art theater.”

Now Kearney and Dawson are looking to impress HSC’s audience base and gain their loyalty, with fingers crossed that their current Bedford and Katonah friends will take that 10-minute drive to the new theater.

“Professional theaters can lift communities up, I think,” adds Kearney. “We’re hoping we can spread our reach to neighboring communities and give people quality, professional theater to enjoy.”

———

Mary Alice Franklin is ArtsWestchester’s Communications Manager and Editor of ArtsNews. She has a B.A. in English and M.S. in Publishing, and has been published in Paste Magazine, HuffPost, Art Zealous, Art Times, and more.