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You Can’t Take It with You | The Day Room

You Can't Take It With You, Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman’s whimsical Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway play, is the story of the zany Sycamore household, presided over by Grandpa Vanderhof (Preston Garrison), a former businessman who has turned his back on commerce to enjoy life. At the Sycamores', everyone does just what he or she pleases. At first, the family seems mad, but it is not long before we realize that if they are mad, the rest of the world is madder.

In contrast to these delightful people are the unhappy Kirbys. Tony (Michael Rowe), the attractive young Kirby son, falls in love with Alice Sycamore (Amanda Dees). His family sustains a shock when they are invited to dine at the Sycamore home and are asked to eat cheap food. Because of the resulting mayhem, Alice decides that marriage with Tony is out of the question.

Meantime, Tony, who knows the Sycamores are right and his own people wrong, will not give her up, and in the end stodgy Mr. Kirby (Clark Middleton) is converted to the happy madness of the Sycamores, especially since he happens in during a visit by an ex-Grand Duchess (Denise Fleming), currently earning her living as a waitress.

The fast-paced farce also includes hilarious mentions of the strange activities of certain members of the household engaged in the manufacture of fireworks; a printing press set up in the parlor; the maid Rheba (Kelley Faddis) and her friend Donald (Daniel Seay); and Grandpa’s interview with the tax collector when he tells him he doesn’t believe in the income tax.

The original production of the play opened at the Booth Theater on December 14, 1936 and played for 837 performances. It is directed by Michael Mahoney (Northark Drama) and Bill Edwards (The Theatre Company). Set design by Ann Graffy.

Cast:
Penelope Sycamore....................Lisa Johnson
Essie…....................................…Julianna Stefanski
Rheba........................................Kelley Faddis
Paul Sycamore............................Jamie Taylor
Mr. De Pinna...............................Darrell Whorton
Ed…………………………...............…...David Stewart
Donald……………………….................Daniel Seay
Martin Vanderhof (Grandpa) ......Preston Garrison
Alice………………………............…......Amanda Dees
Henderson……….........…………….....Rob Thomason
Tony Kirby………...........……………...Michael Rowe
Boris Kolenkhov…........…………......Bill Edwards
Gay Wellington…………..........……...Nancy Dees
Mr. Kirby………............…………….....Clark Middleton
Mrs. Kirby……….............……………...Ann Lemley
Olga………………...............…………....Denise Fleming
Three Men.....Rob Thomason, Joey Jones, Wes Williams