Pankin returns to St. Vincent Theatre

St. Vincent Theatre alumnus Stuart Pankin's career has taken him to the big screen and back.

The Los Angeles-based actor, who performed at the local theater throughout the 1970s, and who has since appeared in film, television and commercials, has returned to the stage at St. Vincent College, near Latrobe, for a month-long run of the play "Lend Me a Tenor."

Pankin appeared in the same play at St. Vincent 11 years ago, but said although that length of time hasn't been an eternity, it was long enough to keep his acting fresh.

"I am playing a different part this time," he said. "It's been long enough that I forget some of the play, so that keeps it challenging. Now I am trying to approach it in a different way."

The play stars the world's greatest tenor, Tito Morelli (played by Pankin) who has come to town to perform his greatest role, Otello. Through a series of mishaps, he is given a double doze of tranquilizers, which mixed with some alcoholic beverages he has consumed, causes him to pass out. The shocked producer, mistakenly thinking his star has died, comes up with a desperately wacky scheme to save his show.

The production has become a family affair for Pankin, who will act along side his wife, Joy. Joy Pankin, who acts the tenor's wife in the show, is a graduate of Seton Hill College, now Seton Hill University, in Greensburg. After both graduated from college, the two returned in 1969 to perform at St. Vincent when the theatre was being launched.

Coming back to the college has special meaning for the couple. They were married there in 1974. The couple's son, Andrew, 16, is also helping with the show as part of the crew.

"Joy and I haven't worked together for 18 years, so this is a great chance," Pankin said. "And to have my son along is terrific. And I love St. Vincent. This is a very special place for me. I've played wonderful parts here and got a lot of experience. The shows here are challenging shows, so it's great experience."

Pankin's on screen experiences have included appearing in "The Hughleys," "Dharma and Greg" and "The Zeta Project" television shows and he had roles in films such as "Arachnophobia," "Honey We Shrunk Ourselves" and "Fatal Attraction."

He also appeared on HBO's "Not Necessarily the News" and can be seen in the current Herbal Essence shampoo commercial.

In the fall, he'll be seen in a 3-D IMAX movie entitled, "Misadventures in 3-D," a sequel to an earlier IMAX movie that he did. There is also the possibility of a movie to be shot in Italy. He also takes parts in stage projects such as "Reprise" at UCLA where he has appeared in plays such as "1776" and "Strike Up the Band."

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'Lend Me a Tenor'