Best seller comes alive on Lamb stage
By Joanne Fox Journal staff writer | Posted: Friday, April 27, 2007
A publishing sensation comes to life this weekend when acclaimed author Mitch Albom's book "Tuesdays With Morrie" has its regional premier on the stage of Lamb Productions.
The book has been an international best seller since its original publication in 1997. It moved Oprah Winfrey so much that she made it into a television movie in 1999 starring Jack Lemmon in the title role and Hank Azaria as author Albom. The movie won Emmy Awards for both actors and Outstanding Made for Television Movie.
The plot of the play focuses on career-driven sports writer, Albom (John Beumler) who resurrects a relationship with a former college professor Morrie Schwartz (Russ Wooley) who's battling ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). Albom begins a weekly pilgrimage from Detroit to Boston as the professor passes along his last and most important lesson.
"The subtitle of the play is 'A Young Man, An Old Man, and the Last Great Lesson,'" said Michael Skaff who directs the show. "But it's much more than insights about Morrie's mortality."
Albom collaborated with playwright Jeffrey Hatcher to examine the two characters' life-altering friendship. Love, work and relationships are all discussed by the professor and his former pupil, Skaff pointed out.
"But Morrie isn't a typical lecturer," he added. "He encourages discussion and acts as a guide for Mitch to reach his own conclusions about life."
The play parallels the book almost exactly in presenting the material Albom recorded over the 14 weeks of Tuesdays that he met with his former teacher -- one losing his life while the other is finding his, Skaff said.
"But reading or knowing the book is not necessary to understanding or appreciating the show," he noted. "It's a funny, touching story that I hope people will come away from changed."
Skaff said that while working on the play, he had come to appreciate "Tuesdays with Morrie" as something much more than just sentimental.
He added, "It's reinforced the idea for me that if you're not happy with your life, you can change if you're willing and open enough to take that chance."
"Tuesdays with Morrie" opens tonight with continuing performances through May 20 at Lamb Productions, 417 Market St. Curtain is 7:30 p.m. with two Sunday matinees at 1:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $22 for Friday/Saturday; adult Thursday/Sunday are $20 and senior citizens and students on Thursday/Sunday are $17. Tickets are available at the door or by calling the box office, Monday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. at 255-9536.
The book has been an international best seller since its original publication in 1997. It moved Oprah Winfrey so much that she made it into a television movie in 1999 starring Jack Lemmon in the title role and Hank Azaria as author Albom. The movie won Emmy Awards for both actors and Outstanding Made for Television Movie.
The plot of the play focuses on career-driven sports writer, Albom (John Beumler) who resurrects a relationship with a former college professor Morrie Schwartz (Russ Wooley) who's battling ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). Albom begins a weekly pilgrimage from Detroit to Boston as the professor passes along his last and most important lesson.
"The subtitle of the play is 'A Young Man, An Old Man, and the Last Great Lesson,'" said Michael Skaff who directs the show. "But it's much more than insights about Morrie's mortality."
Albom collaborated with playwright Jeffrey Hatcher to examine the two characters' life-altering friendship. Love, work and relationships are all discussed by the professor and his former pupil, Skaff pointed out.
"But Morrie isn't a typical lecturer," he added. "He encourages discussion and acts as a guide for Mitch to reach his own conclusions about life."
The play parallels the book almost exactly in presenting the material Albom recorded over the 14 weeks of Tuesdays that he met with his former teacher -- one losing his life while the other is finding his, Skaff said.
"But reading or knowing the book is not necessary to understanding or appreciating the show," he noted. "It's a funny, touching story that I hope people will come away from changed."
Skaff said that while working on the play, he had come to appreciate "Tuesdays with Morrie" as something much more than just sentimental.
He added, "It's reinforced the idea for me that if you're not happy with your life, you can change if you're willing and open enough to take that chance."
"Tuesdays with Morrie" opens tonight with continuing performances through May 20 at Lamb Productions, 417 Market St. Curtain is 7:30 p.m. with two Sunday matinees at 1:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $22 for Friday/Saturday; adult Thursday/Sunday are $20 and senior citizens and students on Thursday/Sunday are $17. Tickets are available at the door or by calling the box office, Monday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. at 255-9536.
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