The Studio@620 Presents: Terrible Jim Fitch
A One Act Play by James Leo Herlihy
The Studio@620 presents Terrible Jim Fitch, a one act play by James Leo Herlihy, featuring Tom Stovall in the title role with supporting actress Hersha Parady.
Directed by Bob Devin Jones
About the Play
"Terrible Jim Fitch" is set in a motel room where the relationship between a girl hustler, and a man, a small-time crook, is explored. Their relationship is a complex one. The man, in a way, loves the girl, being totally dependent upon her for simple human involvement. But he has a weakness for violence, a weakness played on by the girl....
"Terrible Jim Fitch," is a long monolog but the audience sees the person being spoken to. Jim Fitch is mean, nasty and philosophic in his own way - a man who talks, argues, pleads, humors and finally threatens his girlfriend, in trying to get a response out of her.
He had beaten her earlier and in spite of his threats and arguments she is now giving him the silent treatment. He has a seIf-proclaimed criminal mentality and makes his living by robbing the poor boxes in churches and for all of his boasting of independence is as lonely as she is. Finally her silence gets to him and brings out a latent murderousness.
About the Playwright
James Leo Herlihy was an American novelist, playwright, and actor.
Born into a working class family in Detroit, Michigan, Herlihy is known for his novels Midnight Cowboy and All Fall Down and his play Blue Denim, all of which were adapted for the screen. Other works include The Season of the Witch and a number of short stories.
About the Actors
HERSHA PARADY began her 40 some year career in the theatre at the Cleveland Play House, following were years in resident theatre’s from Vermont’s, Burlington Shakespeare Festival to 3 seasons at ACT in Seattle. Highlights on stage were the 3 opportunities to work in A Streetcar Named Desire, as Stella…one production with Jon Voight as her Stanley. While living in LA and being one of the lucky few for a decade or two, working in front of a camera, she was never long off the boards…winning best actress in three L.A. productions from Dramalogue and the Times..American Stage has been her home for the last 15 years …making an appearance on the average of every two to three years…it’s TIME again !!!...very excited to be at Studio 620 where many of my fellow gypsies have worked and played.
TOM STOVALL was a theater major throughout his college career. He acted in and directed many plays and musicals while attending Miami-Dade Junior College, St. Petersburg Junior College, Florida Presbyterian College, North Carolina School of the Arts and UCLA. He began studying ballet with the St. Petersburg Concert Ballet. He later studied with the Miami Ballet Company and the National Ballet of Washington D. C. In 1970, Stovall wrote, directed and danced the rock ballet, ABBEY ROAD performed at Florida Presbyterian College, Bayfront Theater, University of Florida and the George Washington Theater in Washington D. C. Stovall began his professional career as an actor in the musical, HAIR on Broadway. He later appeared in the original Broadway cast of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. In 1973, Stovall left New York for Los Angeles, where he co-authored the musical, JOSHUA (a Michael Butler Production) with James Rado (co-author of HAIR). Stovall was again cast in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, this time in the Los Angeles Production. He remained in Los Angeles pursuing an acting career that led to appearances in over twenty national commercials and television series including MASH, LOU GRANT, KUNG FU, and THE ROCKFORD FILES. In 1976, Stovall starred with Marjoe Gortner and Ida Lupino in the feature film, FOOD OF THE GODS (an American International Pictures release). Later that same year, he entered the UCLA Film School where he produced and directed an adaptation of James Leo Herlihy's (MIDNIGHT COWBOY) TERRIBLE JIM FITCH starring the late Tom Baker. After leaving UCLA, Stovall began a producing career with fellow students Buzz Hirsch and Larry Cano in their quest to bring the feature film SILKWOOD to the screen. Throughout filming Stovall served as Associate Producer. He also served as Associate Producer on the feature film HEAVEN, directed by Diane Keaton. Stovall was Producer of TO HAVE AND TO HOLD for ABC television, based on an experience in Mr. Stovall’s life. Stovall and Buzz Hirsch (Executive Producer of SILKWOOD) are owners of the film, television and stage rights to Claude Brown's autobiography, MANCHILD IN THE PROMISED LAND. STOVALL and HIRSCH were EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS of the stage production of MANCHILD at THEATER THREE in Dallas, Texas and participated in the 2003 New York City production at the AMERICAN PLACE THEATER (111 46th St.). Recently, STOVALL and HIRSCH teamed up with producer, RUDY LANGLAIS (THE HURRICANE, starring Denzel Washington and REDEMPTION, starring Jamie Foxx) and director, JEREMIAH CHECHIK (BENNY AND JOON, NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION and DIABOLIQUE,) to produce a film adaptation of MANCHILD IN THE PROMISED LAND. Stovall returned to his hometown of St. Petersburg in the early 90’s to raise a family and pursue another artistic talent, painting. He painted murals including, HISTORIC VINOY DINING ROOM, BOB LEE’S TIRE COMPANY, CRESCENT LAKE WATER TOWER, SEMINOLE WATER TOWER, YELLOW SUBMARINE, among others. Stovall currently works in graphics and was shown in 2005 at the Mahaffy Theater. Stovall is a classically trained pianist and as recently as 1992 appeared with the KIROV BALLET (St. Petersburg, Russia), as Herr Drosselmeyer, at the Bayfront Center in the centennial performance of Tchaikovhky's, THE NUTCRACKER.