Images of Jack Benny
Images of Jack Benny
"Now cut that out!"
Jack Benny
Gordon Productions was proud to present stage and screen actor Jack Milo in NOW CUT THAT OUT - IMAGES OF JACK BENNY.
Central Illinois audiences have enjoyed Jack Milo for over 20 years with his appearances at the Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan. Jack has played the leading roles in such classic shows as FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, SOUTH PACIFIC, GUYS AND DOLLS, SUGAR BABIES, and many others. In addition to his work on the Little Theatre stage, Jack has starred in theatres across the country, toured in the stage version of the film musical FAME, and appeared in the hit movie,THAT THING YOU DO.
The idea for NOW CUT THAT OUT - IMAGES OF JACK BENNY, started in a coffee house when the owner believed that there was something in the way Jack Milo spoke that made her think of Mr. Benny. Having been a big fan of Benny, Jack Milo went to work to capture his wonderful spirit.
After Milo researched books on Jack Benny and the heyday of radio, and listened to over 600 of Benny’s radio programs, a show began to come together. A combination play, performance piece and a history of Mr. Benny’s life, this has been a journey of love and fun for Jack Milo.
Concerned about the monotony of a one-man show, Milo the writer devised a twist for Milo the performer -- a computerized system involving sound clips. That system will allow Milo to interact with the voices of Benny friends and foils Mary Livingston, Fred Allen, Mel Blanc and Rochester.
"I initially started this for me," Milo says. "Then it gradually turned into a tribute. Which I think is the way it should be."
The show chronicles Mr. Benny’s life through childhood, vaudeville, film, radio, television and Vegas, but particularly his life in radio. His was the longest running comedy show on radio, outlasting Fred Allen, Burns and Allen, Fibber Magee, Amos N’ Andy, and many others. It is also a nostalgic tour through the time when radio was king.
NOW CUT THAT OUT - IMAGES OF JACK BENNY premiered at the Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan, Illinois. The show brings back memories for older audiences and gives younger audiences an opportunity to see what life was like before television. This is a fond tribute to a one-of-a-kind performer, the likes of which we will probably never see again.
Gordon Productions was founded in 1999 by Gus and Claire Gordon with the goal of producing quality small-scale theatrical productions in central Illinois. In their short history, they’ve produced successful productions of FOREVER PLAID, GREATER TUNA, LOVE LETTERS, THE CHRISTMAS SONGBOOK, THE BEST OF BROADWAY, BULLY! AN ADVENTURE WITH TEDDY ROOSEVELT, GIVE 'EM HELL HARRY, and MY WAY - A MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO FRANK SINATRA.
NOW CUT THAT OUT - IMAGES OF JACK BENNY was presented at the auditorium at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, located at 1200 W. Washington in Springfield (Click here for directions: SH-G DIRECTIONS). Performances took place on Friday, October 3 at 8:00 p.m., Saturday, October 4 at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sunday, October 5 at 2:00 p.m. The show was sponsored, in part, by the Route 66 Hotel & Conference Center.
Jack Milo (Jack Benny) Central Illinois audiences have enjoyed Jack Milo for over 20 years with his appearances at the Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan. Over the years, Jack has played most of the great comedic leading roles in musical theatre: Tevya in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF; Pseudolus in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM; Nathan Detroit in GUYS & DOLLS; The Top Banana in SUGAR BABIES; the Devil in DAMN YANKEES; Jerry/Daphne in SUGAR; the Leading Men in LITTLE ME; and Moonface Martin in ANYTHING GOES. 
