Emmy Award Winner

Will Direct Barn’s Season Opener

RIDGEFIELD — Seeking the best talent available, Ridgefield Theater Barn has selected Lester Colodny as director of its first production of the 2006-07 season, the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning drama, Proof, which opens September 8.

After seeing Proof on Broadway, Mr Colodny was fascinated with the play and knew he wanted to direct it himself. His friend and playwright, Jim Gordon — whose new play, Fake, was recently presented as part of the barn’s series of unproduced works — suggested he apply to direct the theater barn’s production. With a lifetime of experience in theater and television, Mr Colodny’s direction of this exceptional play promises an exciting evening of theater.

Originally from Brooklyn NY, Mr Colodny received a BA in Theater and Theater History from Brooklyn College and did post graduate work in acting, directing and theater history at the University of Illinois. He worked as a writer in New York in the early days of television and was an agent at the William Morris Agency, where he represented and helped develop writers like Neil Simon, Mel Brooks, Larry Gelbart and Woody Allen, and directors like Herb Ross, Norman Jewison, Paul Mazursky and Marc Rydell.

Mr Colodny served as the director of program development at NBC-TV and was producer and writer of the Today Show with Dave Garroway. After leaving New York for California, Mr Colodny created, produced and wrote the TV series The Munsters; co-produced the series 90 Bristol Court; and wrote episodes of Get Smart and Love American Style.

He won an Emmy for Best Director, Writer and Producer for the TV special The Baja Marimbas and Jack Benny. Following his success on the West Coast, Mr Colodny returned to New York and wrote Fun City, a play that starred Joan Rivers. He describes working with the comedienne and plastic surgery addict as “an experience.”

Mr Colodny has directed the national company of Oh Men Oh Women as well as more than 25 regional and community theater productions of plays, such as Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Dancing At Lughnesa, The Heiress, Come Back To The Five and Dime Jimmy Dean, Guys and Dolls, Finian’s Rainbow, Steel Magnolias and Agnes of God.

As vice president and copywriter for Needham Harper and Steers advertising agency, Mr Colodny created TV commercials and print ads for Xerox, Amtrak, L’Air du Temps, Wrigley’s Doublemint Gum, and Stanley Tools. He was president of TYOH (Toot Your Own Horn) Advertising, an in-house agency for the Golden Nugget Casino in Las Vegas where he wrote, produced and directed TV commercials starring Frank Sinatra, Dolly Parton, Dean Martin, and Paul Anka.

Mr Colodny also served as consultant to Donald A. Trump Associates for his hotel casinos and for Princess Hotels Worldwide and Connecticut Trade Association.

Proof will run from September 8 through October 7. Performances are Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 pm, with Sunday matinees on September 17 and 24 at 2 pm.

Ridgefield Theater Barn is at 37 Halpin Lane. Seating is cabaret-style; ticket-holders bring food and beverage. Doors open one hour before showtime.

Tickets are $22 adults, $18 seniors (62) and students, and are available online at TheaterBarn.org.