Following the 1999 performance of “If You Ever Leave Me, I’m Going With You,” Queens Theatre in the Park presents the return of Renee Taylor and Joseph Bologna in the smash Broadway comedy “It Had To Be You.”
The play tells the story of Theda Blau (Taylor), a failed actress/analyst/playwright/nutcase who seduces Vito Pignolia (Bologna), a successful television director, and then holds him hostage on Christmas Eve.
Taylor and Bologna got married almost 40 years ago on “The Merv Griffin Show.” They first collaborated on the Broadway play “Lovers and Other Strangers,” which they later turned into an Academy Award-nominated movie. They also co-wrote “Acts of Love and Other Comedies,” for which they earned an Emmy Award, and “Bedrooms,” for which they received a Writers Guild Award.
Taylor, an accomplished actress, writer, comedienne and director, is best known as Fran’s Drescher’s mom on the hit TV show “The Nanny,” for which she was nominated for an Emmy. Taylor’s Broadway credits include: “Agatha Sue, I Love You” and “The Rehearsal.” She also starred in the national tours of “Annie Get Your Gun” and “Wish You Were Here.” Her film roles include: “Nurse Betty,” “The Producers,” “…And God Spoke,” “Last of the Red Hot Lovers,” “A New Leaf,” “The Detective,” “Lovesick,” “Love, Sex and Marriage” and “White Palace.”
Bologna made his acting debut in “Lovers and Other Strangers.” He has acted in films such as: “Doctor Doolittle 2,” “Big Daddy,” “Citizen Cohn,” “Blame It on Rio,” “My Favorite Year” and “Love is All There Is.”
“It Had to be You” will be performed at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, March 3 and 4; at 8 p.m. Friday, March 5; at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, March 6; and at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 7.
Queens Theatre in the Park is conveniently located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, just off exit 9E of the Grand Central Parkway(near Shea Stadium & The US Tennis Center). In addition to ample free parking, the indoor theatre has a free trolley service between the Willets Point/Shea Stadium stop of the No. 7 Train and the theatre.
