Get on the roller-coaster ride of family dynamics and prepare to laugh, cry and enjoy Marty’s Back in Town in either Aventura or Boca Raton this March. Marty's Back in Town reflects on an immigrant family’s experience as they seize opportunities in pursuit of the “American Dream" in this comedic-drama about the ups and downs of a dysfunctional family and their relationships with each other and with the “black sheep” who is returning home after 10 years.

PERFORMACE VENUES, DATES AND TIMES 

The Studio at Mizner Park
201 W Plaza Real, Boca Raton, FL 33432

  • Friday March 24th - 7:30 PM
  • Saturday March 25th - 7:30 PM
  • Sunday March 26th: 3:00 PM
  • Friday March 31st : 7:30 PM
  • Saturday April 1st: 7:30 PM
  • Sunday April 2nd: 3:00 PM

Cast Trailer

PUBLISHED REVIEWS FROM PREVIOUS PERFORMANCES

“Playwright Norman Shabel has plumbed the depths of his soul to tell the story of a Jewish family living in Brownsville, a section of Brooklyn, NY…this is a family drama, crammed with portraits of his remarkable mother and a piercing look into sibling rivalries “ – The Jewish Community Voice, Philadelphia, PA

“Shabel’s extensive use of dialogue around the family table and living room, manages to keep the audience riveted as they are drawn into this dysfunctional family’s drama.” – Lisa Panzer

Marty's Back in Town review-Stage Magazine

Marty's Back in Town article-phillyburbs.com

Marty's Back in Town review-Philadelphia Jewish Voice

AUDIENCE TESTIMONIALS

“Dysfunctional at its best. Jewish, Irish, Italian…we all see ourselves in it!”
“It was a really good play – well acted. This play touches on various aspects of every dysfunctional family out there.”
“Well written dialogue that keeps the play moving.”
“Bravo!”
“This play is very funny. Loved the smart alec lines. Enjoyed the relationships between the characters, The emotion through each scene was very real.”

CAST

Samuel
PETER W. GALMAN is a veteran performer of stage and screen who has spent the last 10 years of his career in South Florida. His New York credits include Broadway and off-Broadway stages, especially ensemble work with the Actors Shakespeare Company of New Jersey as Claudius, Shylock, Prospero, Bottom, Pistol, Richelieu and Lear. In Florida theater: Maltz Jupiter — South Pacific, Born Yesterday, The Audience, Kiss Me, Kate (Silver Palm) and Glengarry Glen Ross (Carbonell); GableStage — Cock (Carbonell-nom), Casa Valentina and most recently Watson (world premiere); The Wick — Guys and Dolls; Area Stage — The Nether (Silver Palm); Thinking Cap — title roles in … the death of Walt Disney (Carbonell-nom) and recently, The Tragedy of King Lear. Broadway: Forty Carats. TV: As the World Turns (Tom Hughes), daytime regular for 5 years; Another World (Douglas Carson); CBS Playhouse’s The People Next Door (Emmy-nom). Peter is the Founder of Shakespeare Troupe, Inc., producing readings and school productions while traveling extensively throughout Florida. www.ShakesTroupe.org.

Seth Trucks (Director)
Seth Trucks (Director) studied experimental theatre at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, and Shakespeare at Bada and Rada in London. He has directed Twelfth Night for the Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival and A Midsummer Nights Dream for Evening Star Productions. Most recently, he directed Educating Asher at Empire Stage. He has also directed a number of shows with Sol Children’s Theatre in Boca Raton. In addition, Seth has written and directed small film projects and multiple staged readings and school outreach performances. He directed Norman Shabel's play A Class Act in Miami in November, 2022.

Chris
Katherine Kanitsch is an actor based in South Florida who originally hails from the Bahamas and spent eight years of her youth in Australia. She is grateful to be a part of this production! Katherine was last seen as Masha in A.C.T. Studio Theatre's production of
Christopher Durang's Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. She is a long time member of the Screen Actor’s Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Some of her recent film and television credits include: Web Series, South Beach (alcoholic anonymous member), Short Films, With Your Crooked Heart (Jean), For Family’s Sake (Mona) and Wish Not (Burma). www.katherinekanitsch.com

Marty
James A. Skiba (Marty) is excited to be part of this original piece. James recently played Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby character) in a production of White Christmas, and John Gustafson (Jack Lemon character) in Grumpy Old Men The Musical. Favorite roles include John Adams in 1776, Harold Hill in The Music Man, Albert Peterson in Bye, Bye Birdie, Julian Marsh in 42 nd Street, Bobby in Company, Frank Butler in Annie Get Your Gun, Smudge in Forever Plaid, the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, and Rev. Shaw in Footloose. Jim also performs in his own 50's doo wop review, 4 EVER 50's,www.4ever50s.com

 

Ronald
Ben Prayz (Ronald Tobin) has appeared throughout South Florida and the Northeast region and in many plays and musicals. He also has numerous IMDB credits, independent features, industrials, commercials and videos. Grateful for this cast, this crew, a live audience and a loving Creator.

 

Lex
Emma McAvoy is thrilled to be back in South Florida performing live theatre and starting her career as a working actor! She recently graduated from the University of Florida with her BFA in Acting, where she performed in multiple productions such as Dog Act (Vera Similitude), John Proctor is the Villain (Raelynn Nix) and Macbeth (First Witch), as well as The Wolves (#8) at the Hippodrome Theatre. “Thank you to Seth for this incredible opportunity, the cast and crew for a great experience, and to mom and dad for supporting me since day one! Love you all!”

Joan
Leslie is very pleased to be a part of this production of Marty’s Back in Town. She was most recently seen as Sherri in West Boca Theatre Company’s production of Admissions. Other previous roles include M’Lynn in Steel Magnolias, Kate in Sylvia, Dorothy in A Class Act, Annette in God of Carnage, Blanche in Brighton Beach Memoirs, Evelyn in Evelyn in Purgatory, The Shadow Box, Can’t Live Without You, Promises, Promises, Bye Bye Birdie, Love Loss and What I Wore, and Come Blow Your Horn. She thanks her family for letting her out of the house to rehearse.

Mama
Christine Chavers. As a member of the Shakespeare Troupe South Florida Christine has appeared in Romeo and Juliet, King Lear, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It, and MacBeth’s Nightmare. Some of her other favorite roles have been Big Mama in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Joanne in Company, Dora in Equus, Rebecca Hilliker and Judy Shepard in Laramie Project, Mom in True West, and Netta Gnocchi in Joey and Maria’s Italian Company Wedding. She has been involved in South Florida
theatre as a producer, director, designer, actor, and educator for many years.

Susan
Francine Birns is honored to be part of the premier of Marty’s Back with such a talented cast and creative team. Francine was last seen on stage at West Boca Theater as Emma in Over The River And Through The Woods and Ester in 37 Postcards. Francine had the privilege of portraying the role of Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret, in three different productions over the last year with her beloved, Craig. Francine has been performing all over South Florida since moving from New York 15 years ago. Some of Francine’s cherished roles include Olive Ostrovsky in The 25Th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Golde in Fiddler On the Roof, Becky in Becky’s New Car, Aldonza/Dulcinea in Man of La Mancha, Camilla in, In The Heights, Rivka in My Name Is Asher Lev and Dolly Levi in Hello Dolly. Francine has two sons, Benjamin and Blake and a beautiful new daughter in law, Keri. In addition to theater , Francine has devoted the last 8 years to being a docent/teacher at the Holocaust Memorial of Miami Beach. Thank you Seth for this wonderful opportunity.

Assistant Director / Daniel
Christian Cooper is thrilled to be assistant directing this marvelous play. He holds a BFA in Acting from Florida Atlantic University and a MFA in Acting from the University of Southern Mississippi. He also
studied Shakespeare at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. Although he's usually seen on the stage, Christian is thrilled to be dipping his feet in the directing pool under such a talented director and an amazingly talented cast. He would like to thank Seth Trucks for giving him this opportunity. He would also like to dedicate his work on this production to one of his greatest mentors, Louis Rackoff.

Stage Manager
Harold Petion is happy to serve as the stage manager for Marty’s Back In Town. An FAU Theatre graduate, Harold has been involved in several productions, including being cast as Cleomenes/Shepherd
in Evergreen Theatre Collective's production of William Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale and as Lloyd Fowler in the film The Document: On The Run, serving as the stage manager for New City Players’ production of Lungs by Duncan Macmillan, Darius V. Daughtry’s adaptation of Merchants of Venice by William Shakespeare, and Educating Asher by Eytan Deray, and directing Carnality by Mark Loewenstern for FAU's 2017 10 Minute Play Festival.

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