2008 Woodie Awards
Rich Little Brings Bogart to Valley
Award-winning performers bring a taste of the '40s to Valley College.
LaGina Phillips
Issue date: 10/27/04 Section: Valley Life
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Comedian Rich Little, dubbed "the best impressionist in the world" in the late 1960s, is starring in Andrew Fenady's "The Man with Bogart's Face," coming to Valley College's Main Stage Theatre Saturday, Oct. 30.
Little, who became a regular on "Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts" in 1973, has been a household name for decades, perfecting his craft by doing impressions of everyone from Robin Williams to Sen. Bob Dole.
"Rich does Bogart better than anyone I've ever seen or heard," said producer and director Peggy Webber, who describes the play as a combination of nostalgia and spoof. "And Andrew [Fenady] wrote during that era [1940s] and can also see the comedy looking back at it."
A spoof on the detective genre of the 1940s, "The Man with Bogart's Face" is described as a comedic mystery and boasts an award-winning cast of seasoned performers, including Leslie Easterbrook of "Police Academy" fame, Ian Abercrombie, who most recently played Alfred on the WB's short-lived series "Birds of Prey" and Marvin Kaplan, former president of the AFTRA union.
Fenady adapted the novel "Bogart's Face" into a feature film, which won an award at the Cannes Film Festival. He adapted the story once again, this time as a radio and stage play.
Many of the show's characters are based on either real people or characters involved in Bogart's life; the character of the secretary spoofs Marilyn Monroe, while another character is based on Lauren Bacall.
Fenady has received three Emmy awards for his work and has written 10 published novels, three plays and numerous television specials featuring Angela Lansbury, Roddy McDowall and Ray Milland, among others. He is responsible for hits such as Bob Hope's "A Masterpiece of Murder" and John Wayne's "Chisum."
"The Man with Bogart's Face" will be recorded live for the California Artists Radio Theatre, the company Webber established 20 years ago to keep the art alive.
CART has recorded more than 100 shows, which can be heard on XM Radio, NPR and American Public Radio. Notable performers such as Shelley Long and the late Richard Crenna are among the many artists who bring their talents to tape for CART.
John Harla, who has lent his signature voice to the Emmys, Oscars and Grammys, can be heard announcing for "Bogart's Face."
This combined talent of performing, writing, directing and announcing is sure to leave the Main Stage Theatre audience in awe.
"Bogart's Face" will soon go on the road; Suncoast Hotel in Las Vegas has already booked the show for spring 2005, while Webber is negotiating with other venues.
"It will be a treat for the students to see all these veterans at work," Webber said. "These are all people who are experienced in what has become sort of a forgotten art."
"The Man with Bogart's Face" will run at Valley's Main Stage Theatre Saturday, Oct. 30 at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. $20 general admission, $15 seniors and students. For more information, call (818) 947-2623.
Little, who became a regular on "Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts" in 1973, has been a household name for decades, perfecting his craft by doing impressions of everyone from Robin Williams to Sen. Bob Dole.
"Rich does Bogart better than anyone I've ever seen or heard," said producer and director Peggy Webber, who describes the play as a combination of nostalgia and spoof. "And Andrew [Fenady] wrote during that era [1940s] and can also see the comedy looking back at it."
A spoof on the detective genre of the 1940s, "The Man with Bogart's Face" is described as a comedic mystery and boasts an award-winning cast of seasoned performers, including Leslie Easterbrook of "Police Academy" fame, Ian Abercrombie, who most recently played Alfred on the WB's short-lived series "Birds of Prey" and Marvin Kaplan, former president of the AFTRA union.
Fenady adapted the novel "Bogart's Face" into a feature film, which won an award at the Cannes Film Festival. He adapted the story once again, this time as a radio and stage play.
Many of the show's characters are based on either real people or characters involved in Bogart's life; the character of the secretary spoofs Marilyn Monroe, while another character is based on Lauren Bacall.
Fenady has received three Emmy awards for his work and has written 10 published novels, three plays and numerous television specials featuring Angela Lansbury, Roddy McDowall and Ray Milland, among others. He is responsible for hits such as Bob Hope's "A Masterpiece of Murder" and John Wayne's "Chisum."
"The Man with Bogart's Face" will be recorded live for the California Artists Radio Theatre, the company Webber established 20 years ago to keep the art alive.
CART has recorded more than 100 shows, which can be heard on XM Radio, NPR and American Public Radio. Notable performers such as Shelley Long and the late Richard Crenna are among the many artists who bring their talents to tape for CART.
John Harla, who has lent his signature voice to the Emmys, Oscars and Grammys, can be heard announcing for "Bogart's Face."
This combined talent of performing, writing, directing and announcing is sure to leave the Main Stage Theatre audience in awe.
"Bogart's Face" will soon go on the road; Suncoast Hotel in Las Vegas has already booked the show for spring 2005, while Webber is negotiating with other venues.
"It will be a treat for the students to see all these veterans at work," Webber said. "These are all people who are experienced in what has become sort of a forgotten art."
"The Man with Bogart's Face" will run at Valley's Main Stage Theatre Saturday, Oct. 30 at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. $20 general admission, $15 seniors and students. For more information, call (818) 947-2623.
