THE FRONT PAGE by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur from November 9 to 27, 1982 at the S.G.I.O. Theatre for the Queensland Theatre Company.
Directed by John Krummel; Designed by James Ridewood; Lighting Designer by James Henson; Assistant Directed by Gregory Gesch*; Stage Managed by Ellen Kennedy and Assistant Stage Managed by Julianne White and Toby Simkin (final week).
STARRING Michael Ferguson (Endicott: Post); Errol O’Neill (Murphy: Journal); Paul Bertram (McCue: City Press); Ross Sharp (Schwartz: Daily News); Peter Noble (Kruger: Journal of Commerce); Peter Rowley (Bensinger: Tribune); Eugene Gilfedder (‘Woodenshoes’ Eichorn); Ross Daniels (Diamond Louie); Patrick Ward (Hildy Johnson: Herald Examiner); Gwen Wheeler (Jennie); Karen Crone (Mollie Malloy); Barry Lovett (Sheriff Hartman); Bronwyn Nayler (Peggy Grant); Kaye Stevenson (Mrs Grant); David Clendinning (The Mayor); Ken Kennett (Mr. Pincus); Darien Sticklen (Earl Williams); Reginald Gillam (Walter Burns); Dudley Hogarth (Policeman); Chris Betts (Policeman) and Brett Fielding (Policeman)
Understudies: Sue Dwyer; Eugene Gilfedder and Dudley Hogarth
And for the Queensland Theatre Company:
(collectively over my tenure)
Executive Staff: Alan Edwards, AM MBE (Founding Artistic Director); Joe MacColum / John Krummel OAM / Gregory Gesch (Resident Director); Peter Duncan* (Assistant Director); Arthur Frame AM (Production Manager); Gillian Coar (Executive Officer); Christine Walsh / Ken Kennett OAM (Public Relations & Publicity Officer); June Craw OAM (Finance and Business Officer); Lewis Savage (Ticketing & Subscriptions Officer); Helen Mayes (Clerical Assistant); Lloyd Nickson (Director, Theatre in Education); Richard Magnus (Fundraising Chairman); Diane Leith (Administration) and Susan Bonning / Jennie Lewis (Receptionist).
Production Staff: Graham Maclean / James Ridewood (Resident Designer); Bill Shannon / Beverley Hill (Design Assistant); Caroline Gyucha (Scenic Artist); James Henson (Lighting Designer); David Lees (Electrician); Michael Wormald / Gary Cameron / Paul Parkinson / David Palm (Properties); Howard Steele (Head Carpenter); Des Dougan / Peter Vosiliunas (Carpenter); Cornelis Boogaart* (Apprentice Carpenter); Marie Perry-Watson / Lexi Wright / Jay Mansfield-Askew / Cynthia Bowen (Wardrobe Supervisor); Ken Bushby / Thelma Cope / Meredith Fogg / Margaret Reeves / Danny Healy / Arlie McGill / Anne Long / Kerry Yates (Wardrobe); Ellen Kennedy / David McCrudden / Kit Oldfield / Patrick Whelan / Kristin Reuter / Jan Levi / Victor Ashelford / Colin Wilson / Barry Melville / Toby Simkin / Brian Barnes / Vito Arena / Peter Reeve± / Sussanne Humphries / Julianne White (Stage Management); Vicki Birch / Yvette (Capt) O’Brien (Production Secretary); Dawn Grieg (Wardrobe Hire) and Ivan/Gloria Pierce, Gregory Gesch & Derrick George (Photographers).
Representation: Yolande Bird / Diana Franklin (London Representative); Michael Menzies / Stuart Thompson (New York Representative) and John Krummel OAM (Sydney Casting & Repertoire Consultant).
S.G.I.O. Theatre Staff: Jim Wright (Manager); Alban Riley / Don Fergusson (Assistant Manager); Peter Petrovich / Ray Calcutt (Head Mechanist); Patrick (Paddy) Teuma / David Malacari (Head Electrician) and Dallas Black / Kay Fifas (Booking Office)
Albert Park Theatre Staff: Wayne McKenna (House Manager); Margo Morris (Box Office)
Associate Artists: Bille Brown AM; Carol Burns; Reginald Cameron OAM, Ivar Kants; Joe MacColum; Warren Mitchell; James Ridewood, Cliff Simcox; Babette Stephens AM MBE and Geraldine Turner OAM.
QTC Guild: Magda Wollner (Coordinator); Alice Beacroft, Joan Chamberlain, Bobbie Glyn Evans, Maureen Fallon, Sonja Farmer, Beryl Foote, Neil Fulwood, Dolores Garland, Elaine Heath, Edna Heathwood, Margaret Hill, Ena Huppert, June Jamieson, Eva Klug, Irene Lefman, Patrick Mellick, Hillary Mosten, Maureen Mortensen, Barbara Nielsen, Joyce Nixon Smith, Gloria Phillips, Vivienne Reddy, Marea Reed, Melina Reed, Margaret Robinson, Grace Reynolds, June Sheedy, Ann Shevill, Toby Simkin, Sybil Simpson, Elaine Skinner, Anne Smith and Jess Yeowart (Volunteers)
* Salaries were assisted by a special grant from the Theatre Board of the Australia Council, a statutory body of the Commonwealth Government.
± Services were provided by the National Institute of Dramatic Art.
^ Services were provided courtesy of the Queensland Theatre Orchestra
The Queensland Theatre Company acknowledged the financial assistance of the Queensland State Government and the Commonwealth Government through the Theatre Board of the Australia Council without which the continued operation of the Company would not have been possible. The Queensland Theatre Company was a founding member of CAPPA (Confederation of Australia Professional Performing Arts)
Three acts, set in 1928 in the Press Room in the Criminal Courts Building, Chicago – a chamber set aside by the City Fathers for the use of journalists and their “friends”, where the action takes place on a Friday night.