VPA opens first play of New Year, ‘God’s Favorite,’ Friday

WASILLA - Valley Performing Art's first play of 2012 opens Friday and plays through Jan. 22.

Written by Neil Simon and produced on Broadway in 1974 by Emanuel Azenberg, "God's Favorite" is a comedy loosely based on the Biblical Book of Job.

A science teacher at Wasilla High School, Julie McCartney also directed VPA's production of "The Drunkard" and won VPA awards for Best Lighting Design for her work on "Beauty and the Beast" and "Spitfire Grill."

"God's Favorite" is set in a Long Island mansion, where dwells a pious, God-fearing tycoon named Joe Benjamin and his family - a long-suffering wife, Rose; a prodigal son, David; a pair of kooky twins, Ben and Sarah; and a maid and butler, Mady and Morris.

One night a messenger from God - Sidney Lipton arrives with a big G on his sweatshirt - and, as in the biblical story, goes through all manner of temptations to get Joe Benjamin to renounce God. When he refuses, he is visited by all the afflictions imaginable. But he stands firm and the messenger has to admit defeat.

Director McCartney cast Thomas G. Jacobs as Joe Benjamin; Michael Bailar as Ben Benjamin; Ashlynn Broste as Sarah Benjamin; Hillary Saffran as Rose Benjamin; Brock Walker as David Benjamin; Roberta Gannon as Mady; Steve O'Brien as Morris; and Todd Broste as Sidney Lipton.

Valley Performing Arts also is collecting nonperishable food items at each performance this season to benefit Food Pantry of Wasilla.

Tickets to the show are $15 for students and seniors and $17 for adults.

VPA's next play is Twelve Angry Jurors performing Feb. 10-22.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit valleyperformingarts.org, or Valley Performing Arts at 251 W. Swanson Ave., Wasilla, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.