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Daddy Was the Biggest Stagemother in Texas is an autobiographical comedy about a young boy
who pursues his dream of becoming a professional dancer and a father who must own up to the fact that his son will
never be a ballplayer. "Tappin' Jack" really does exist and his unique, funny and heart-warming story
takes us on a lively ride, from ages 5-25, through all of the training, dance competitions and life events that Daddy
drags him through....and Daddy is the Texas redneck that makes Mama Rose look like Mother Goose! This
play is for anyone who has ever had the desire to make a creative dream come true.
Following our 2002 workshop at THE DUPLEX, the play was fully developed, through the PLAYWRIGHTS
HORIZONS Invitational Forum, into a full-length comedy. We held a staged reading at 440 Studios in 2003 and
were extended at the 2004 NY International Fringe Festival due to popular demand.
REVIEWS & ACCOLADES
"Daddy is a saucy beaut! Funny and sad."
- The Village Voice
"Daddy puts the fun in dysFUNctional"
- On-Line Review
"True moments of sheer absurdity, comic relief and tap dancing"
- various NYC Writers, Directors and Actors
Jack Dyville (Playwright/Co-Producer)
is a Jack-of-all-theatrical trades, including dancer, actor, singer,
director, choreographer and PR director. He is also a published children's playwright
and active member of the Dramatists' Guild. His works have been developed at Playwrights Horizons, he has been
a featured dancer at Radio City Music Hall and a dancer-singer-actor on and off Broadway and in first class, regional
and stock theatres throughout the country. He continues to judge dance competitions and the 2004 American
Idol auditions and has been Director-Choreographer of the Miss North Dakota segment of the Miss America Pageant
for many years. Jack was Founder and Artistic Director of the Metropolitan Youth Theatre and was honored by the Governor
of North Dakota for excellence in the arts. "Tappin' Jack" recently returned to NYC where he appeared on FOX TV's
30 Seconds to Fame, the pilot of Queen 4 A Night for Red One Productions and a benefit performance
for Unity/NYC at the Soho Playhouse. He has also appeared on NBC's Law and Order and will be featured
in the upcoming "Taxi" a 20th Century Fox film featuring Queen Latifah and Jimmy Fallon and a documentary
entitled "Tell Me A Story" for Dempsey Rice/Daughter One Productions. His plays are performed throughout
the country and new productions this summer include a World-Premiere musical about explorers Lewis & Clark in North
Dakota, Uff Da! at the Minneapolis Fringe Festival and Daddy Was the Biggest Stagemother
in Texas! at FringeNYC.
Eric M. Schussel (Co-Producer) attended LATP/TDF's 2001 Commercial
Theatre Institute (CTI) Workshop, where he learned every aspect of producing from the “best of the best”. He has worked onstage, offstage and backstage as a Producer, Director, Actor and Company
Manager off-Broadway and in regional theatre. His projects include the first
New York revival of Richard Greenberg’s Eastern Standard for the Grassroots Theatre Company, administration
for AMAS Musical Theatre and Company Management for the Jewish Repertory Theatre off-Broadway and Half A Dozen Broads
on tour. In the business world, he has held management position in Finance
and Administration for several New York marketing companies, currently Diascience Corporation.
Eric is thrilled to be partnering with Jack Dyville on “Daddy…” and future ventures.
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