From Page to Stage

Mark Moede and Ross Dippel star as Morrie Schwartz and Mitch Albom. Len Villano’s photos courtesy of Third Avenue Playhouse.

When considering an adaptation for the stage of a well known, non-fiction novel, questions arise about the particular challenges of making the production successful.

According to Arthur Hopper, the director of TAP’s production, the audience faces the greater challenge when watching the story unfold onstage rather than on the page.

Tuesdays with Morrie is a story with which many people are familiar,” Hopper wrote in an email. “They have read the book and/or seen the movie. Thus in coming to see the play, they may come with expectations of what they are going to see; especially if they have seen the movie.”

He continued, “The play is not the movie, it is not the book. It is an abbreviated and simplified version of both. Hopefully, the audience will come with an open mind, a willingness to suspend their expectations. The primary challenge for me has been to stage the play simplistically and theatrically. I think we have done that, and kept the focus of the performance on the characters and the content of the play.”

Mark Moede and Ross Dippel star as Morrie Schwartz and Mitch Albom.

Tuesdays with Morrie runs October 7 – 10 and 14 – 17 at 7:30 pm Thursday – Saturday and 2 pm on Sunday. Ticket prices are $15 for adults and $12 for students. For more information and/or to reserve tickets call 920.743.1760 or visit http://www.thirdavenueplayhouse.com.