Ed Asner Is FDR

Just moments away from Chatsworth, the life and times of one of the most popular and iconic U.S. presidents of blessed memory comes to the Plaza del Sol Performance Hall, 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 11, at California State University, Northridge.

Celebrated actor of stage and screen, Ed Asner, becomes the essence of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States. During his terms in office he was the central motivator in the most pivotal events in the 20th century: the Great Depression and World War II.

His economic policies forged the way government has continued to run for decades afterward. He was the only president to have been elected to office four consecutive times. He revived the lagging American spirit with his ideals of optimism and action. In FDR, the events, motivations and actions of this president are explored.

This solo show is based on the stageplay Sunrise at Campobello by Dorey Shary. The popular show ran on Broadway for a record 566 performances and garnered seven Tony Awards. That occurred over 70 weeks, making it one of the longest running plays ever.

Ed Asner, best known as the curmudgeon with a soft heart Mr. Grant on the Mary Tyler Moore show, is a multi-award winning film, television, stage, and voice actor. He has served as president of the Screen Actors Guild. In 2001 he received the Guild's Lifetime Achievement award.

A winner of three Golden Globes and five Emmy Awards, his talent reaches from comedy to drama. He was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in 2003. Recently he was the voice of the misanthropic Carl Fredricksen
in the award-winning animated film from Pixar, Up.

In FDR, Asner walks that fine line between comedy and drama. If you think about it, so did Roosevelt.

Although he himself was iconic in stature, Roosevelt's life did have its lighter moments. It was well noted for example, that at social gatherings, FDR found the small talk tedious and boring. He particularly didn't like how persons to whom he was speaking didn't seem pay attention to anything he said.

So he decided to see if they were listening or not. He'd start the conversation with the outrageous utterance of "I murdered my grandmother this morning." Sure enough, the reactions were bland and inappropriate. However, on one occasion one attentive listener replied: "I'm sure she had it coming."

FDR is a very powerful play. In this challenging role, Ed Asner takes you on a journey in which Roosevelt reflects on his time in office, from the day he was inaugurated to the tribulations of World War II. Asner himself remembers Roosevelt's death, and how devastated he felt at losing his hero. His admiration for Roosevelt was what inspired him to take on the role in FDR, in preparation for which Asner did extensive research.

So come, settle in, and get comfortable for one of those famous "Fireside Chats".

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Scrooge, the Musical,  runs at the (little) Big Oak Theatre, 22200 Chatsworth St., in Chatsworth, Nov. 27, 28, and Dec. 4, 5, 11, 12, 19.

This musical version of the Dickens' classic The Christmas Carol  transports you to 1860s.  You will join the townspeople of Cheapside, London, as they witness the conversion of "rotten old Scrooge" after  he is visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. This is a wonderful family show with pre-show carolling to enhance the holiday spirit. Tickets may be ordered via email:  avenueact1@att.net , online at bigoaktheatre.com, or by calling (818) 998- 0185.