Stalag 17 by Donald Bevan and Edmund Trzcinski

March 26-April 17

Gunston Theatre Two
2700 South Lang Street
Arlington, VA

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Originally a Broadway hit, Stalag 17 followed another legendary World War II play, Mister Roberts, by being based on the actual experiences of its authors, and by carefully treading the line between comedy and tragedy. The Academy Award-winning film adaptation by Billy Wilder and Edwin Blum became so famous that everyone forgot there was a great play inside. This is it.

Stalag 17 tells the story of both the prisoners and their captors -- a story of friendship, comradeship, and deception. As the captives struggle for freedom and plot an escape, an enemy lies in their midst, leading to a suspicion even deadlier than actual betrayal. Stalag 17 first opened on Broadway in 1951, with Broadway legend John Ericson as Sefton. The film adaptation won a Best Actor Academy Award for William Holden. But as Director William Aitken notes, “TACTs Stalag 17 is not your father’s Stalag 17. It will contain humor, but TACTs production will focus and explore the grittiness and depth of the story.”

TACT’s all-star cast is headed up by Tony Bullock (Sefton), Hans Dettmar (Schultz), both making their TACT debut swith Stalag 17, and Jon Townson (Price), who appeared as John F. Kennedy in TACT’s 2008 production of The Titans. James Finley (Dunbar), Donald Osborne (Shapiro), and Steve Lebens (Reed) return to Gunston Theatre Two after a brief interlude from TACT’s recent fifties comedy, Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?. TACT favorites Karl Bittner (SS Captain) and Bill Gordon (Hoffy) have appeared with TACT in Life with Father and Happy Birthday, Wanda June, respectively; Gordon also produces TACT’s “Before the Curtain is Raised” podcast series. Rounding out the cast are TACT newcomers Tom Eisman (Herb), Jay Hardee (Marko), Matthew Meixler (McCarthy, Guard), David Olmsted (Horney), John Stange (Stosh), James Svatko (Geneva Man), and Gabriel Swee (Duke). TACT Producing Director Sherri L. Perper has assembled a top-notch team of designers to evoke the surrealism of the Austrian Prison Camp. They include Anndi Daleski (Set), Rip Claassen (Costumes), Cheryl Ann Gnerlich (Lighting), Ian Armstrong (Sound), and Ceci Albert (Props). Jameson Shroyer (Technical Director/Master Carpenter), Casey Kaleba (fight choreographers), and Robert Pierce (Stage Manager) complete the production staff.

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Suitable for ages 14 and up.
Production includes smoking, some loud noises, brief partial nudity.
Running time:  2 hours with one intermission