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Winner!
1997 Tony Award for Best Play, 1997 Outer
Critics Circle
Award
Nominated for
1997 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
In his second play, THE LAST
NIGHT OF BALLYHOO, Alfred Uhry explores the lives
of Jewish southerners, a society that he introduced to the
American theatre-going public with his Pulitzer
Prize-winning play, DRIVING MISS DAISY. The
setting and plot of The Last Night of Ballyhoo developed
from stories Uhry heard during his childhood about a Jewish
family-- so highly assimilated they have a Christmas in the
front parlor -- that is looking forward to Ballyhoo, a
lavish cotillion sponsored by their restrictive country
club.
However, Uhry also had a keen desire to
explore Jewish identity, including Christian prejudice not
only in Atlanta society, but also inflicted by one
religion on its own.. Uhry combined these two interests to
create the privileged world of the Levy/Freitag families.
They live in a large home on one of
Atlanta’s finest streets. They belong
to an elite country club. Their children may attend
prestigious private universities. All these trappings and
conveniences of wealth, however, cannot change the fact that
they are Jewish in an overwhelmingly Christian society. The
prejudice that they experience as a result of their religion
does not deter them from embracing mainstream southern
society or from replicating this discrimination within their
own culture
While THE LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO
deftly explores this anti-Semitism, Uhry also intersperses
his serious message with sparkling banter, comedic non
sequiturs, and some very funny characters. The play is often
called a “comedy-drama.”
Leading this family
is patriarch Adolph Freitag --Mark Hartfield-- seen
last as pretend-Director in NOISES OFF and
real director of last season's winning production of
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD.
Life is made somewhat hectic
with older sister Boo, newcomer Lynn Shelton.
Lynn
has played over 20 major roles
including leads in THE FOUR POSTER and
STEEL MAGNOLIAS.
Another newcomer -- Ashley Le --
handles the role of Boo’s daughter, Lala. Ashley’s lead
roles at Lakeland Community Theatre include the secretary in
HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS…and Sarah Brown
in GUYS AND DOLLS. Award-winner Kathy
Sheffield from Season 38’s THE SUGAR BEAN
SISTERS, takes on sister-n-law Reba while
Lakeland
resident, Mandy Fields, lands her first TWH role as
her daughter.
You might remember
Marshal Batman from LOVE, SEX AND THE IRS
a few years back.
He returns in the role of
Joe Farkas, Adolph’s business
assistant. Another newcomer,
Southeastern
University
student Bryan O’Conner rounds out the cast as
Peachy Weil, a visitor.
Directing this awarding-winning cast and
play is Alan Reynolds, with Camille McClellan
providing the costumes and Ted Smith designing
lights. Stage Manager is Marti Stanley.
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