Kristin
The Rival
Tuesday 10 July 2001 on NBC

Kristin and Aldo try to convince hard-hearted Tommy to fund the city zoo's Monkey Island, a haven for all the underprivileged simians in the neighborhood, but when he doesn't take to the idea, Kristin sends in the chimps to do the talking. Tommy's former business associate, Peter Medavoy, pays a...

Christopher Durang's play, Sister Mary Ignacious Explains It All For You, inspired protests outside of theaters by Catholic groups who considered the play to be blasphemous and anti-Catholic. (edit) Christopher Durang was hired as an actor for a bit role in the movie The Secret of My Success. However, the director, Herbert Ross, quickly realized that he had a treasure on the set and hired Durang to write dialogue for the movie. Ross gives credit to Durang for most of the movie's funniest lines. (edit) Of all his plays, Durang claims that The Marriage of Bette and Boo is his favorite because it is semi-autobiographical. He likes that it takes the most painful moments of his childhood and makes them funny. (edit) Christopher Durang has been nominated for three Drama Desk Awards: one for Outstanding Actor in a Musical (1980 -- Das Lusitania Spongspiel), one for Outstanding New Play (1986 -- The Marriage of Bette & Boo), and one for Outstanding Play (1999 -- Betty's Summer Vacation). (edit) Since 1994, Christopher Durang has co-chaired the Julliard School's Playwriting Program. (edit)

Christopher Durang: I’ve had some small acting parts in movies and I actually find it relaxing how little responsibility I have. I think to myself: “I’m just responsible for making my part in this scene work.” It’s very different than when I’m a writer, and if a scene isn’t working, due to writing or directing or acting, I know I have to address it and do my best to make sure it’s solved. (edit) Christopher Durang: I’m obviously not in a position to judge … I do like the fact that my plays are popular in high schools and colleges. I just find that very interesting that my plays are more popular in high schools and colleges than my New York mixed success might imply. (edit) Christopher Durang: I usually start with an idea and discover where it's heading as I go along... this has been giving me problems working in Hollywood, where they want you to pitch an idea with a conclusion before you start work. (edit) Christopher Durang: I like actors, and I have an almost embarrassing ability to laugh at my own work. In rehearsals I'll laugh my head off, but by about the third week I just can't laugh any more. I've learned that I have to warn the actors about that. Otherwise they'll think, oh, he doesn't like it anymore. (edit) Christopher Durang: I don't try to offend people. In life, I feel very diplomatic. Obviously in my writing, at least in some plays, I'm not. (edit)

Star
Kristin Reverend Thornhill

Guest Star
Frasier The Seal Who Came to Dinner Sebastian Melmoth	Frasier The Impossible Dream Voice of Rudy
Saturday Night Live Sigourney Weaver/Buster Poindexter Himself	Tales from the Crypt Mute Witness to Murder Delores' Husband