In this hilarious comedy, two English Shakespearean actors, Leo and Jack, find themselves so down on their luck that they’re performing "Scenes from Shakespeare" on the Moose Lodge circuit in the Amish country of Pennsylvania.
But then, what luck! They hear that dear old Florence of nearby York, PA is about to die and leave her fortune to her two long lost English nephews whom she has never seen. For Jack and Leo it is the work of an instant to turn themselves into nephews Max and Steve and grab the cash. And that’s when the complications set in…
Romantic entanglements abound, as Some Like It Hot meets Twelfth Night in this screwball comedy filled with bad behavior, high heels and a world of comedy.
Recent News and Reviews
Reviews
"Ludwig’s newest comedy is so funny, it will make sophisticated and reasonable men and women of the 21st century cackle till their faces hurt."
- The Houston Press
Jane Connell as Florence - Chris Duva as Jack Photo: T. Charles Erickson
Tim McGeever as Butch - Brent Barrett as Leo Photo: T. Charles Erickson
Jane Connell as Florence - Mark Jacoby as Duncan Photo: T. Charles Erickson
Chris Duva as Jack - Brent Barrett as Leo Photo: T. Charles Erickson
"Thanks to Ken Ludwig and his Leading Ladies our lives are that much brighter."
- Broadway World
"Leading Ladies is consistently funny - indeed, increasingly hilarious as it progresses."
- The Houston Chronicle
"Look for Leading Ladies to become a staple of summer stock and community theatres. And, mind you, I mean that as a compliment."
- Variety
"Ken Ludwig gives the audience something powerful and potent: laughter and a guiltless evening of Theatre-going."
- Village News
"Leading Ladies is a highly combustible and continuously hilarious new comedy by Ken Ludwig, Broadway's reigning comic writer."
- The Cleveland Plain Dealer
"Ludwig's laugh-a-second (yes, they do come that fast) farce, will surely join "Charley's Aunt" ... in the repertories of regional and community theatres for decades to come."
- The San Diego Union-Tribune
"Ken Ludwig has hit it out of the park, or theatre rather, again!"
- Stephens College
"Two English Shakespearean actors are down-on-their-luck - so down-on-their-luck, in fact, that they end up performing Shakespeare on the Moose Lodge circuit in Pennsylvania's Amish Country. Enter romantic interest and the need to become legitimate. This play just gets funnier as Jack and Leo hatch a plot to pass themselves off as two English women to scam an elderly woman of her fortune. Disastrous decisions lead to hilarious comedy worthy of Ken Ludwig who also penned Lend me a Tenor."
- Pittsburgh Live on Leading Ladies at The Mountain Playhouse
"Ken Ludwig's Leading Ladies is a laugh riot! ...One heck of a lot of fun!"
- The Ottawa Citizen
"This is a crowd-pleaser if there ever was one...the comedy is ferocious!"
- Vancouver Province
Original Cast and Creative Team
Ken Ludwig’s Leading Ladies had its world premiere at the Alley Theatre, Gregory Boyd Artistic Director, in association with the Cleveland Playhouse, Michael Bloom, Artistic Director, Dean R. Gladden, Managing Director. The Scenic Designer was Neil Patel, the Costume Designer was Judith Dolan, the Lightening Designer was David Weiner, the Sound Designer was John Gormada and Associate Sound Designer was Ryan Rumery. The Choreographer was Michael Tapley, the Stage Manager was Terry Crenshaw and the Assistant Stage Manger was Amy Liljegren. The production was under the direction of Ken Ludwig and opened on October 15, 2004 with the following cast:
MEG—.Erin Dilly; LEO—Brent Barrett; JACK—Christopher Duva; AUDREY—Lacey Kohl; DUNCAN—Mark Jacoby; FLORENCE—Jane Connell; DOC—Dan Lauria; BUTCH—Tim McGeever