*ABOUT THE PLAY*

It is 1946 in Washington D.C. The U.S. has just come out of WWII, Truman is President, there are still only 48 states (96 votes in the Senate),and the country is poised for an era of relative peace and great prosperity. Into this environment playwright Garson Kanin has thrown a corrupt (and corrupting) junk dealer, an ex- chorus girl and a crusading newspaperman. Centered around that chorus girl, Billie Dawn, the ensuing action is revealing on many levels. It is a love story, a variation on the old Pygmalion plot. It is a tale of politics-as usual vs. a new found democratic idealism. It is a tale of a woman overcoming oppression and gaining dignity. And it is often extremely funny! Kanin’smasterful mix of drama, action and comedy has become a treasured piece of classic Americana, and deservedly so.

We are very pleased to bring to you this wonderful play tonight to open the State College Community Theatre’s summer season for 2013. We hope you enjoy it as much as we have enjoyed bringing it to you!

BRUCE FLEISCHER  DIRECTOR