BLT Announces Cast for 'Nuts'

Bradford Little Theatre (BLT) is pleased to announce the cast of it’s upcoming performance, “Nuts,” being performed on March 22, 23, & 24 at Togi’s Playhouse, 18 Welch Ave.  The show is co-directed by Ron Buchheit and Charles Church, both making their directorial debut with BLT. A courtroom drama, “Nuts” by Tom Topor, is about call girl Claudia Draper is on trial for killing one of her clients in self defense.  Her mother, Rose, and step-father, Arthur, try to have her declared mentally incompetent, preventing the trial and institutionalizing Claudia.  Defense attorney Erin Levinsky is assigned to her case, but Claudia is angry and distrustful of everybody, and she resists his help, disrupting both her examinations by psychiatrist Herbert Rosenthal and her court hearings.

Co-directors Ron Buchheit and Charles Church

“Ron and I are very excited about this script and the cast,” co-director Church said, continuing, “Despite the ‘newbies’ in the cast we are confident of their abilities and enthusiasm.  Each one has worked hard and has taken on the persona of the character they portray.” Claudia Faith Draper is portrayed by BLT newcomer Cassandra Buck, while Rose and Arthur Kirk are no strangers to the stage, portrayed by Laura Piccioli and Robert “Tony” Vinca.  Both Piccioli and Vinca have performed with BLT and in Kiwanis Kapers. Playing defense attorney Erin Levinsky is another newcomer to both the stage and BLT, Sapphire B. Wallin. Mike Clark, also a veteran of both Kiwanis Kapers and BLT, will portray Dr. Herbert Rosenthal, Claudia’s court-appointed psychiatrist.   Francis MacMillan, the prosecutor, will be brought to the stage by Christina Cole.  Judge Murdock will be performed by Anne Bouquin. The cast is rounded out by Lewis P. Keller, Jr and Beckie Confer, who play Officer Haggerty and the court recorder.  Cole, Bouquin, Keller, and Confer are all veterans of the BLT stage, with Confer also having performed with Olean Community Theatre (OCT). “Nuts” premiered on Broadway at the Biltmore Theatre in 1980.  In 1987 it was made into a movie starring Barbra Streisand as Claudia Draper and Richard Dreyfuss as Aaron Levinsky. Tickets for “Nuts” will cost $8 for students and seniors and $10 for adults.  They will be available at BLT’s outlets; Graham Florist and Togi’s Family Restaurant beginning in March. “Nuts” is performed with special arrangement from Samuel French, Inc.