By Ronald B. Hellman
The conversation was mainly about local theater and lots of names were dropped. I can now give you only a couple of highlights, since we're expecting to sell the video rights of our meeting to the highest bidder.With his latest direction of “George and Gracie – A Love Story” now completing its tour for Plaza Theatrical Productions, Frank numbers 113 shows that he has acted in or directed, or both, since he got started back in 1967 – an average of about three a year! That start was at the late, great Mater Christi High School in Astoria (now St. John's Prep) when a friend got him to try out for “The Teahouse of the August Moon.” Frank was offered the role of Sakini, the Asian interpreter played by Marlon Brando in the movie – funny, neither one looks it – but he didn't want to give up his Driver's Ed course. A week later the drama teacher and director Eugene Finlay convinced him otherwise, and that, Frank says, changed his life. And he learned how to drive anyway.Among other things, Frank met his wife (now his ex), Joanne Bogart, at Mater Christi. Frank's still a big fan of hers – she and partner Eric Rockwell wrote and starred in the recent long-running Off Broadway hit “The Musical of Musicals” and have a new musical in the works.Frank is a man of many talents – a fine actor, a singer, and as for dancing, I've seen him make a good move or two. In 1971 he formed a company with Michael Patalano, Dispat Productions. Their first show was “The Odd Couple” with Frank as Oscar Madison, a role he reprised in three other productions over the years.Although Frank has worked with many theater companies – mainly in Nassau and Queens, and in such exotic locales as Florida and Kentucky – he spent a number of rewarding years with the Little Theatre of Forest Hills, the top of the class in its day. Under its auspices, in 1984, he had one of his shining achievements directing “The Miracle Worker.” He recalls that “everything came together, a great play, a strong production and an excellent cast.” Another fond memory elsewhere was acting in and directing “Sleuth” in 2002.Why has he both directed and acted in at least a dozen shows? “It's a dumb thing, I don't recommend it,” he says, but a shortage of good actors and the lure of a good role influences his decision. But now that he's a member of Actors' Equity Association, his acting opportunities in non-Equity-approved productions are cut off. Too bad, since producers and casting directors know that Frank has the versatility and talent to deliver a solid performance.A Queens resident since the age of 4, living for many years in an undisclosed location – okay, Whitestone – Frank is marking his 20th year with Safe Horizon, the largest victim assistance nonprofit organization in the United States. Last summer he wrote and directed “Attitudes,” a student film project dealing with racism, violence and dating abuse; it's now part of the School Programs Training Curriculum in New York City.Happy Valentine's Day from Frank and me.Contact Ron Hellman at RBH24@Columbia.edu.
