News

Bill C. Davis, whose 1981 Broadway hit play Mass Appeal was adapted for a 1984 feature film starring Jack Lemmon and Željko Ivanek, died Feb. 26 following a brief illness, his family announced. He was 69.

Born in Ellenville, NY, and raised in the state’s Hudson Valley, Davis attended Catholic schools and, after graduating from Poughkeepsie’s Marist College, worked at a residential community for developmentally disabled and emotionally disturbed adults in Rhinebeck, NY. He wrote Mass Appeal, about the conflicting personalities of a stern, conservative priest and a younger, rebellious seminarian, during his time in Rhinebeck.

The play originally was produced Off Broadway in 1980 at the Manhattan Theatre Club, starring Milo O’Shea and Eric Roberts and directed by Geraldine Fitzgerald. Mass Appeal moved to Broadway the following year, with Michael O’Keefe taking over for Roberts.

The Broadway production earned Tony Award nominations for O’Shea and Fitzgerald.

Showbiz & Media Figures We’ve...

Bill C. Davis, who wrote the Broadway two-hander Mass Appeal, then adapted the drama for the film version that starred Jack Lemmon, died Friday in Torrington, Connecticut, after a brief illness, a publicist announced. He was 69.

Mass Appeal, directed by Geraldine Fitzgerald, played at the Manhattan Theatre Club before moving to the Booth Theater on Broadway in 1981. Starring Milo O’Shea as Father Tim Farley and Caddyshack’s Michael O’Keefe as young seminarian Mark Dolson, it ran for more than 200 performances through May 1982.

“By letting his characters grow and change, Mr. Davis has written a play ...

Bill C. Davis, who wrote the Broadway two-hander Mass Appeal, then adapted the drama for the film version that starred Jack Lemmon, died Friday in Torrington, Connecticut, after a brief illness, a publicist announced. He was 69.

Mass Appeal, directed by Geraldine Fitzgerald, played at the Manhattan Theatre Club before moving to the Booth Theater on Broadway in 1981. Starring Milo O’Shea as Father Tim Farley and Caddyshack’s Michael O’Keefe as young seminarian Mark Dolson, it ran for more than 200 performances through May 1982.

“By letting his characters grow and change, Mr. Davis has written a play ...

Stacy Shane and ManUnderdog Productions will have on Monday, June 21st a reading of the new play, "The Sex King" by Bill C. Davis ("Mass Appeal") with David Morse and Julia Stiles at The Clurman Theatre (Theatre Row). It will be directed by Jonathan Silverstein, the director of this seasons "The Temperamentals." and "I Never Sang For My Father." The production is planned for next season. Mr. Shane is the original producer of the critically acclaimed and award-winning new American play, "The Tempermanetals."...

Stacy Shane and ManUnderdog Productions will have on Monday, June 21st a reading of the new play, "The Sex King" by Bill C. Davis ("Mass Appeal") with David Morse and Julia Stiles at The Clurman Theatre (Theatre Row). It will be directed by Jonathan Silverstein, the director of this seasons "The Temperamentals." and "I Never Sang For My Father." The production is planned for next season. Mr. Shane is the original producer of the critically acclaimed and award-winning new American play, "The Tempermanetals."...

Mass Appeal-- Bill C. Davis' comic drama Mass Appeal - Rupert Hinton and Chuck Donnelly costar in this comic drama. An old parish priest takes a radical young church deacon under his wing and tries to help the young firebrand to conform to church doctrine and politics. Can they work out their differences? Only God knows! Produced and directed by Virginia Barrie.

The South Camden Theatre Company, Inc. a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Camden, New Jersey will perform "Mass Appeal" written by Bill C. Davis beginning February 6 through Sunday February 22, 2009. Mr. Davis will also visit South Camden Theatre Company for a special meet and greet session following the opening night performance on Friday, February 6, 2009. Director for the show and Producing Artistic Director of South Camden Theatre Company Joseph M. Paprzycki states, "Mass Appeal" is a classic dramatic-comedy of two priests that clash over the traditional and modern Catholic ideology; touching on the ongoing dialogue between both clergy and parishioners which shows how we can lose ourselves and what is essential in our humanity, and how we can find redemption in letting go of our fears. I am honored to have the opportunity for our audience to speak directly with Bill C. Davis and gain insight into a new version of his...