Stars join Cape lineup

Season opens with 'Mass Appeal'

By MARKLAND TAYLOR

SOUTHBURY, Conn. -- Malachy McCourt, Kathie Lee Gifford, Diana Canova, Philip Bosco, Anita Gillette and Pat Carroll are among the actors who will take part in the 2002 season of the Cape Playhouse in Dennis on Cape Cod, Mass.

The June 17-Sept. 7 season, at what claims to be the oldest professional summer theater in the country (it opened in 1927), will begin with McCourt and Jason Wiles in Bill C. Davis' "Mass Appeal,'' followed by Gifford and Canova in Rupert Holmes' mystery thriller "Thumbs.''

Next will be Gore Vidal's "The Best Man,'' with a cast led by Bosco, Gillette, Billy Campbell, William Moses and Celia Weston. It will be followed by the Gershwin musical "My One and Only'' showcasing John Sherer and Jeanna Scheweppe.

Marj Dusay then will head the cast of "The Tale of the Allergist's Wife,'' followed by the WWII all-girl-band show of wartime favorites, "Swingtime Canteen.''

The season will close with Carroll starring in Cape writer Marcia J. Monbleau's play "oldfriends.com.''

Each production runs for two weeks.

The Cape Playhouse is run by artistic director Evans Haile and managing director Kathy Fahle.