Event

THE BEN HECHT SHOW

WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY JAMES SHERMAN. Based on the books A GUIDE FOR THE BEDEVILLED and CHILD OF THE CENTURY by BEN HECHT. Directed by Dennis Zacek. Produced by Charles Grippo.

BEN HECHT, legendary playwright (THE FRONT PAGE, ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY) and screenwriter (NOTHING SACRED, WUTHERING HEIGHTS, SPELLBOUND)grew up in New York City and Racine, Wisconsin. He worked as a newspaperman in Chicago before embarking on his career as a novelist, playwright, and screenwriter. In the shadow of the Nazi Holocaust, Hecht confronted his own identity as an American Jew. In his books of memoirs "A Guide for the Bedevilled" and "Child Of The Century," Hecht describes his own upbringing as an assimilated American Jew and his burgeoning activities in support of European Jewry and the creation of Israel. Using Hecht's own words, Chicago actor - playwright James Sherman portrays Hecht in an engaging and thought provoking presentation.

JAMES SHERMAN is the author of the plays MAGIC TIME, THE GOD OF ISAAC, MR. 80%, THE ESCAPE ARTIST, BEAU JEST, THIS OLD MAN CAME ROLLING HOME, JEST A SECOND!, ROMANCE IN D, FROM DOOR TO DOOR, THE OLD MAN'S FRIEND, AFFLUENZA!, HALF AND HALF, RELATIVELY CLOSE, and JACOB AND JACK. Most have been published and are regularly produced by theaters throughout the United States and have also been seen in Canada, Mexico, South America, England, Germany, Austria, Turkey, South Africa, Australia, China, and Korea. In the summer of 2006, James wrote and directed the movie of his play BEAU JEST, starring Lainie Kazan, Seymour Cassel, and Robyn Cohen.

GRIPPO STAGE COMPANY is a 501 (c) (3) public charity. Its mission is to explore cultural diversity, with a special emphasis on Jewish themes, plays, and playwrights. It uses theater to fight anti Semitism by showing the immense positive contributions that Jews have made to our culture. Donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law and much appreciated. www.grippostagecompany.com