STAGE TUBE: Behind the Scenes at Totem Pole Playhouse's THE SUNSHINE BOYS

By: Jul. 05, 2013
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Famous funny men Robert Picardo and Lee Wilkof will appear in Neil Simon's The Sunshine Boys for director John Putch at Totem Pole Playhouse, for its 63rd summer season. Click below to go behind the scenes with the stars!

Lee Wilkof, a starring character in Putch's indie Route 30 trilogy films will rock the house in Fayetteville, PA in July, before shooting begins on the third installment in August. This is Lee's 40th year as a professional actor. New York audiences were treated to his creation of Seymour in the original production of Little Shop of Horrors. He has appeared on Broadway eight times and has received numerous honors for his work as an actor, including a Tony nomination for Kiss Me Kate. Breakfast At Tiffany's, The Odd Couple, Democracy, The Boys From Syracuse, She Loves Me, The Front Page and Sweet Charity are the tip of the iceberg of Wilkof's Broadway tenure and has received an Obie, a SAG and a Joseph Jefferson award to back it up. Aside from his Tony nomination, Lee has received 3 Drama Desk nominations as well. The list of his work in film, television and the theatre is long. Lee will be directing the feature film No Pay, Nudity later this year.

Robert Picardo has been a well-known actor on stage, screen, and television for over thirty years. Mr. Picardo is recognized around the globe for his popular role as the Holographic Doctor on Star Trek: Voyager. He also starred as Commander Woolsey on Stargate Atlantis, making him the only actor to play regular roles on both of television's most enduring science fiction franchises. He is also well known for his roles on China Beach and The Wonder Years (for which he received an Emmy nomination) and countless guest star appearances on other shows.

In 1976, he appeared in David Mamet's Sexual Perversity in Chicago followed by The Primary English Class with Diane Keaton. In 1977 Bob made his Broadway debut in the lead role in the comedy hit Gemini with Danny Aiello. The following year, he co-starred as Jack Lemmon's combative son in Bernard Slade's Tribute on Broadway and in a west coast run, which brought him to Los Angeles.

Bob starred in one of John Putch's family films, Beethoven's Christmas Adventure, which led Putch to pair Bob and Lee in arguably one of Neil Simon's best comedies.

Also in the Totem Pole cast are veteran funny man and artistic director of Totem Pole, Ray Ficca. And newcomer to the stage, Alicia Fusting. Both actors have appeared in Putch's previous Route 30 films and will also appear in the new film set to begin shooting in August/September of this year. "The final installment of the comedic trilogy promises romance and intrigue," says Putch. "A bit of James Bond, mixed with some Twilight Zone, topped off with some old bay seasoning. And thankfully it's not in 3D."

The Sunshine Boys will run from July 9th - 21st at Totem Pole Playhouse, in Fayetteville Pennsylvania. Tickets can be purchased at the theater, on the website or by calling the box office at 888-805-7056. For more information, visit www.Totempoleplayhouse.org.



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