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Tony Braithwaite to lead Act II Playhouse

One of the region's pre-eminent comic talents, Tony Braitwaite, has been named producing artistic director of Act II Playhouse in Ambler, succeeding Bud Martin. Howard Shapiro reports.

By Howard Shapiro
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Tony Braithwaite, one of the region's premiere comic actors, will take the helm of Act II Playhouse in Ambler in July.
The board of Act II, among the region's hottest stages over the past few years, named Braithwaite as the new producting artistic director, replacing Bud Martin.

Martin, also a Broadway and West End producer, will continue to serve on the board and be available to direct, as will Harriet Power, the associate artistic director who will leave that post at the end of the season in May; she will continue on the theater faculty at Villanova.

"It is important for the theatre to have a full-time artistic director who can devote the time that I have not been able to," said Martin, a producer of last season's Time Stands Still on Broadway, and director of the current Act II production of that play.

The company, Martin said in a release, "needs someone who ... can be the face of the theater. Our audiences know Tony's face much better than mine." Braithwaite has taken roles at Act II since 2003, most recently last month.

Braithwaite said in a statement he would continue Act II's mix: "well-loved titles, annual musicals, and from time to time a show that stretches us and our audiences a bit."

Contact staff writer Howard Shapiro at 215-854-5727, hshapiro@phillynews.com.