ILENE REID

MICHAEL HEITZMAN

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The Civic Light Opera Hermosa Beach cast of "BINGO!"
Clockwise from top left - Heather Lee as "Honey", Micheal Heitzman - Songwriter & Playwrite, Wendy Worthington as "Vern", Ilene Reid - Songwriter & Playwrite, Lisa Robinson as "Bernice",  John Bisom as "Shep", Kathryn Cirzan as "Pearl", Mary Jo Mecca as "Patsy", and Beth Malone as "Alison"

Union rules dissallowed us taking photos of the performance, so we thank the cast and writers for allowing us to grab these shots after the show!


WOW! Amazing prop created for the show, a fully working stage-wide lighted BINGO board displayed Vanna White
style by playwrites/songwriters Michael & Ilene!  The audience gets to particpate in the play and wins prizes during the show!



 
The 10 Solemn Commanments of 
BINGO!

 1.  Thou Shalt Not Sit in Thy Neighbor's Lucky Seat
 2.  Thou Shalt Not Stare at Thy Neighbor's Card
 3.  Thou Shalt Not Use Thy Caller's Name in Vain
 4.  Thou Shalt Not Holler A False Bingo
 5.  Thou Shalt Not Wish Bad Luck On They Neighbor
 6.  Thou Shalt Not Threaten to Kill Thy Caller
 7.  Thou Shalt Not Steal Thy Husband's Money For Bingo
 8.  Thou Shalt Not Lie About How Much Thou Won
 9.  Thou Shalt Not Lie About How Much Thou Lost
10. Thou Shalt Not Yell "Aw, Shit!" When Thou Neighbor Wins

REVIEWS of the musical theatre production of BINGO! at the Hermosa Beach Playhouse ~

From the L.A. Times:
'BINGO!...is amiable entertainment, in sometimes surprising ways. While it has fun with the lower-middle-class culture of bingo players, it also takes pokes at the conventions of musical theater and any kind of feel-good fiction in general. Its creators--Michael Heitzman, Ilene Reid and David Holcenberg--establish a tone of self-deprecating comedy that allows everyone to laugh without making anyone feel especially picked on.

"Bingo" doesn't take its plot nearly as seriously as its belting. Anyone who wants to be in this show should be prepared to unveil some impressive pipes, for just about all of the characters have at least one big solo that's supposed to blow the house down. The women of Hermosa Beach succeed admirably in this regard. Worthington, in particular, makes Vern a virtual hurricane.' 


From Backstage West:
'Heather Lee as the blonde bimbo Honey...displays some nifty comic timing, as she sets her romantic sights on the nerdy bingo caller Shep (John Bisom).  Bisom, often a dashing leading man in local CLO musicals, makes an effective segue to character actor in his loopy portrayal of the amiable hayseed. Wendy Worthington as the control-freak Vern, to whom bingo success is a matter of life or death, serves up some wry comedy. 

The cast is rounded out with additional good performances: K.T. Vogt in two roles (bingo hostess and a histrionic would-be actress); Lisa Robinson as a former member of the bingo group; Beth Malone as an actress with a secret, and Mary Jo Mecca as a superstitious kook, amusingly costumed by Thomas G. Marquez in gaudy attire befitting a third-rate Vegas lounge singer...'


From CBS News:
'Bingo is big! ...becoming more popular than a blackout.  At the Hermosa Beach Playhouse, not only do you get to play the game, you also have the pleasure of hearing folks like Beth Mallone, who treats the audience to a show within the show. Everybody's a winner there!'
 

Ilene Reid's Web Page

Michael Heitzman's Web Page

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