"Heaven Can Wait"

April 2001
Press Release – "Heaven Can Wait"

The newest and most enthusiastic theater group on Long Island, The Minstrel Players, are embarking on their third production this year when they stage the classic romantic comedy-fantasy "Heaven Can Wait" this Spring.

The Minstrel Players are fresh off their highly acclaimed staging of "Arsenic and Old Lace" last Fall and "The Man Who Came to Dinner" which ran last Spring. The nucleus of the Minstrel Players is a group of theater veterans that have been involved with Community & Regional Theater throughout Queens/Long Island for the past 10 years. The creative team behind the Minstrel Players also perform in these productions: Executive Producer, Cary Schwartz (Tony Abbott), Artistic Director, Tara Palen (Julia Farnsworth) and Stage Director, Ray Palen (Joe Pendleton). Keeping everyone in check, on both sides of the curtain, is Assistant Director, Debbie Palen.

"Heaven Can Wait" is a well-known romantic comedy-fantasy originally written for the stage by Harry Segall in the 1940's. Many people remember the popular film versions: "Here Comes Mr. Jordan" starring Robert Montgomery and "Heaven Can Wait" starring Warren Beatty. Most recently, another version of this play was made into the film "Down To Earth" starring Chris Rock. The story involves a boxer named Joe Pendleton (Ray Palen) who is prematurely "pulled" from his body by a heavenly escort (7013 played by Kristine Miller) and left in heaven without a body. Since Joe feels his true destiny was to be heavyweight boxing champion of the world he asks the "head guy in heaven", Mr. Jordan (Peter Guarascio), to find a replacement body for him. Joe is placed in the body of millionaire Jonathan Farnsworth, who has just been poisoned by his wife and her lover (played by Tara Palen and Cary Schwartz). Once Joe has become Farnsworth he is faced with many challenges including: blowing the lid on his wife and her lover, winning over the daughter of an employee that Farnsworth did wrong to (Bette Logan played by Allison LeGrow) and trying to convince his former boxing manager (Max Levene played by Les Degen) that Joe Pendleton is really in Farnsworth’s body. What ensues are some of the funniest and most touching "mistaken identity" moments in stage history. Rounding out the cast are several Minstrel regulars as well as newcomers: Karen Palen-Ottomano (Mrs. Ames), Joel Silverman (Lefty/Escort #1), Jef. Lawrence (Inspector Williams), Roseann Baldanza (Maid), Ray Palen Sr. (Doctor) and Tara Nelson (Escort #2). The stage version plays out even better then the many film adaptations of "Heaven Can Wait".

The Minstrel Players are committed to bringing quality, affordable theater to the Long Island region. "Heaven Can Wait" can be seen on Saturday, April 28th, May 5th and 12th at 8:30 P.M. and Sunday, April 29th, May 6th and 13th at 3:00 P.M. at the Israel Community Center located at 3235 Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown. Tickets are $12.00 each and $10 for Seniors (Sunday performances only). For more information please call either (631)754-4246 or (516)676-2701.

October 2001