United Solo Theatre Festival Presents

HEDY! The Life & Inventions of Hedy Lamarr

Written and Performed by HEATHER MASSIE
Directed by JOAN KANE

Projection Design: JIM MARLOWE & CHARLES MARLOWE
Lighting Design: BRUCE A. KRAEMER
Sound Design: JACOB SUBOTNICK
Costume Design: CAT FISHER
Board Operator: RICHARD KENT GREEN
Technical Assistant: DAN LEARY
Image Collage: DAVID CHANCE
Image Color: DUNCAN PFLASTER
Marketing & PR: VERONIQUE ORY

Studio Theatre at Theatre Row
410 West 42nd Street (between Ninth & Tenth Avenues)
www.telecharge.com or (212) 239-6200
11/09 @ 7:30 PM; 11/11 @ 7:30 PM; 11/15 @ 9 PM

Often referred to as The Most Beautiful Woman in the World, Hollywood film star Hedy Lamarr did much more than the expected protocol for a glamourous icon – stand still and look stupid. Born in Austria in 1914, she nurtured a love of knowledge from her father. Her marriage to an Austrian arms dealer gave her the opportunity to garner information about munitions which later served her well when she developed with George Antheil a Secret Communication System for torpedos during World War II. This system is now used in cell phones, WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth, bar scans, and many other wireless devices.

Heather Massie has created a tribute to this amazing woman in HEDY! The Life & Inventions of Hedy Lamarr. Portraying the actress with a slight accent, a large sense of humor, a technical curiosity, and in acknowledgment to her beauty a charming manipulation, she tells of Hedy’s serendipitous stumble into acting, her escape from Austria, the making of a Hollywood star, and her collaboration with many husbands and composer Antheil. And she does it well, including the audience in on jokes and asides, and revealing not only intelligence but also persistence. In this particular performance, it was obvious that Ms. Massie wasn’t feeling well, and at one point asked the audience’s indulgence as she retreated backstage. Assuming the performance was over, the audience began to consider leaving. Suddenly she returns to the stage, script in hand, and continued with a delightful dramatic reading. Hedy would have been quite pleased with Massie’s professionalism and determination.

- Laurie Lawson -