O’LEARY DIRECTS “G-MAN” AT TOWNGATE

WHEELING, W.Va. (December 31, 2009) – “G-Man,” the Oglebay Institute 2009-2010 National Playwriting Contest winner, be will staged at Towngate Theatre for two weekends- January 15 –17 and January 21-23 and is directed by Wheeling theater legend Hal O’Leary.

In “G-Man,” award-winning playwright Rosemary Frisino Toohey brings out the special qualities of a man in a seemingly ordinary profession. The “G-Man” in this production does not refer to an adventurous FBI agent but rather the more down-to-earth occupation of garbage collector.

The “G-Man” is Larry, and he likes picking up trash just fine. If other people have issues with his career choice, well, that’s their problem. He’s smart; he’s got a good buddy to share good times with, and he’s got a way with women…he seldom sleeps alone. He also regularly visits his mom in a nursing home, something his sister can’t bring herself to do. Then, a change in his work shift leads to a dreadful discovery, a night of bad decisions and ends with his arrest. Help comes from an unexpected source, prompting changes in his job and in himself.

“Ms. Toohey presents a warm and loving portrayal of the ‘G-Man,’” O’Leary said. “Should your faith in humanity be slipping a bit, you owe it to yourself to have it reinforced by this, often poignant, often humorous venture into the life of, what some might think, the least of us.”

Cast members for “G-Man” are: Lewis Willming as Larry, Shawn Carder as Jack, Gael Fincham as Larry’s Mom, Brittany Harriman as the Old Woman, Lacy, the girl and Judy, C.J. Farnsworth as Mrs. Johnson, Justin Swoyer as the Police Sergeant and Jodi Coleman as Diane.

Toohey enjoyed a successful career in radio news for many years, but in 1997 decided to commit herself fulltime to playwriting. By early '98, she had completed her first full-length play, “Gladys in Wonderland.” It was staged the following year at the Vagabonds Theatre as part of the Baltimore Playwrights Festival. She has now written a total of seven full-length plays and 18 one-acts. Of those 25 plays, 18 have been produced.

Her one-act comedy, “In the Tank” is published by Dramatic Publishing, Inc., Woodstock, IL and is on the shelves of 14 public and university libraries, including the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Texas A & M and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

As a member of the Screen Actors Guild, she sometimes works in film and TV. She's been seen briefly in Rocky Balboa, Wedding Crashers, National Treasure, Runaway Bride, Gods and Generals, Ladder 49, Hack and The Wire. She had a supporting role opposite Marcia Gay Harden in the film Home.

Oglebay Institute’s National Playwriting Contest is O’Leary’s brainchild and one of his proudest efforts. The contest began in 1976 and offers a chance for writers to get their work produced.

Fostering theater at its roots, Oglebay Institute’s Playwriting Contest is respected throughout the national and international artistic community and offers audiences fresh new theatre and a chance to play a part in the very important process of playwriting. O’Leary is invaluable to playwrights as he directs, suggests and assists these new artists in their creative work.

Towngate’s curtain is at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, January 15-16, and 2 p.m. Sunday, January 17. Curtain is 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, January 21-23.

Call the Stifel Fine Arts Center at 304.242.7700 to reserve seats for “G-Man.” For those buying seats at the door, Towngate’s box office opens one hour before all shows and can be reached at 304.233.4257.

Refreshments are available at Towngate Theatre and parking is curbside or in the nearby Center Wheeling Parking Garage. Located at 2118 Market Street, Wheeling, Towngate is easy to find and located just across the street from St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in the historic Centre Market district of Wheeling.

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