PRESS BOX

Caldwell Theatre Company Presents

Mitch Albom’s
Tuesdays with Morrie

By Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom
Based on the book by Mitch Albom

This Season’s Most Powerful & Heartwarming Drama
April 6 – May 11, 2008

Caldwell Theatre Company closes its 33rd Mainstage Season in the new Count de Hoernle Theatre with the powerful drama, Tuesdays with Morrie, by Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom, playing
April 6 – May 11. 

Based on sportswriter and television commentator Mitch Albom’s autobiographical account of his weekly visits with his former Brandeis University sociology professor, Morrie Schwartz, Tuesdays with Morrie takes place in the last months of Morrie’s life.  The student and professor form a close bond, and lessons learned from Morrie’s unique perspective cause Mitch to reevaluate his life, reset priorities and inspire others with his 1997 bestseller of the same name.

Starring Peter Haig as Morrie and Jim Ballard as Mitch, and directed by Michael Hall, Tuesdays with Morrie is an intimate and life-affirming examination of one man’s life, replete with life lessons.  Each influences the other in memorable and inspiring fashion.

Play #4
April 6, 2008 – May 11, 2008
Tuesdays with Morrie
By Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom
Based on the book by Mitch Albom

Sportswriter and television commentator Mitch Albom’s autobiographical account of his weekly visits with his former Brandeis University sociology professor Morrie Schwartz, who has developed Lou Gehrig’s disease.  The two form a close bond during these last months of Morrie’s life.  Lessons learned from Morrie’s unique perspective cause Mitch to reevaluate his life, reset priorities and inspire others.  Based on Mitch Albom’s 1997 life-affirming bestseller, Tuesdays with Morrie features Peter Haig as Morrie and Jim Ballard as Mitch.

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHTS

MITCH ALBOM (Playwright) co-authored the stage production of the play based on his book, which has seen more than 40 productions nationwide.  He is the author of nine books, including "The Five People You Meet in Heaven," which is the most successful U.S. hardback first novel in history selling over 8 million copies worldwide, and "Tuesdays with Morrie," which spent four years on the New York Times Best Sellers list and is now the most successful memoir ever published (selling over 14 million copies worldwide).  An award-winning journalist and radio host who has founded three charities in the metropolitan Detroit area, Albom raises money for literacy projects by performing with The Rock Bottom Remainders, a band made up of writers including Stephen King, Dave Barry, Scott Turow, Amy Tan and Ridley Pearson.  He was named National Hospice Organization's Man of the Year in 1999.

JEFFREY HATCHER (Playwright) co-authored the stage version of Tuesdays with Morrie.  Plays/adaptations include Three Viewings, Compleat Female Stage Beauty, Scotland Road, To Fool the Eye and The Turn of the Screw at Manhattan Theatre Club, Primary Stages, Yale Rep, Old Globe, Guthrie, South Coast Rep., Intiman, Milwaukee Rep., The Empty Space, Philadelphia Theatre Co., Denver Center and Actors Theatre of Louisville.  His adaptation of Kaufman and Hart's The Fabulous Invalid premiered at Boston's Majestic Theatre.  His film adaptation of Compleat Female Stage Beauty starring Billy Crudup and Claire Danes opened in 2004.  He wrote for Peter Falk’s TV series “Columbo.”  He is a member of New Dramatists, the Playwrights’ Center, Writers Guild of America and the Dramatists Guild.

ACTOR BIOGRAPHIES

JIM BALLARD (Mitch) Tours:  The Sound of Music (Capt. Von Trapp), American and Asian tours, Closer Than Ever (Man 2), Edinburgh Fringe Festival.  Regional:  Urinetown (Lockstock), Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre; Deathtrap (Clifford), Blowing Rock Stage Company; Bingo! (Sam) Aruba Prod.; Beauty and the Beast (Gaston), Little Theatre on the Square; Fat Pig (Tom), GableStage; Kiss of the Spider Woman (Valentin) & Dangerous Liaisons (Valmont), Nevada Rep.;  I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change (Man 2), Naples Theatre,  I Hate Hamlet (Barrymore), Broach Theatre.  TV:  "Sports Desk"- USA Prod.  Film:  Eyeborgs (David), Crimson Wolf Prod.  Jim would like to thank his wife, Chrissy and their two "problem children" (Italian Greyhounds) Misty May and Skylar for their love and support.  Semper Fi.

PETER HAIG (Morrie) has been seen intermittently in Caldwell productions since 1978.  Of 33 productions, his last appearances were as the opera impresario in the Carbonell Award-winning Lend Me A Tenor and in multiple roles in the premiere of Michael McKeever's The Impressionists.  He recently played the role of Morrie in Key West at Danny Weather's Waterfront Playhouse.  Although he is the grateful recipient of a pension from Actors' Equity, he hopes to keep acting for many years, facing new challenges and repeating favorite "old guy" roles in The Price (Carbonell Award), Lend Me A Tenor (Carbonell Award), That Championship Season (nomination), Trying (nomination) and On Golden Pond.  He thanks South Florida theaters for keeping him active, particularly Palm Beach Dramaworks for exceptional opportunities in recent years.