Eliot Ness: An Untouchable Life
The new play by Max Allan Collins, "Eliot Ness: An Untouchable Life," August 18-27 at The Des Moines Playhouse in Des Moines, Iowa. Tickets are available at The Playhouse box office, by phone at 515-277-6261, and online at www.dmplayhouse.com.
The one-man show, developed in part with a grant from Humanities Iowa, will star Des Moines actor Michael Cornelsion.
"The one-man show format is perfect for telling the true story of this fascinating American's life," said actor Cornelison, whose recent appearances as Clarence Darrow have won rave reviews.
The play represents the culmination of decades of research by acclaimed Iowa author Collins, whose bestselling graphic novel ROAD TO PERDITION was adapted into the Academy Award-winning Tom Hanks/Paul Newman film.
"Eliot Ness is the most famous real-life detective in American history," Collins said, "but probably no historical figure has been more misunderstood or misrepresented."
Ness, the son of a Chicago baker, was at 26 selected to head up the Capone Squad, directed by President Herbert Hoover to bring down the Windy City's crime czar, Al Capone. His harrowing exploits have been the fodder of Hollywood for decades.
"Surprisingly," Collins said, "the real story is more exciting and colorful than the Hollywood version -- Ness fought gangsters, corrupt cops and even America's first serial killer."
The writer first explored Ness in his 1983 novel, TRUE DETECTIVE, which won the "Shamus" award from the Private Eye Writers of America. Later he penned four novels about Ness's lesser-known but equally exciting exploits as the "top cop" of Cleveland, Ohio. Research uncovered by Collins at the Case Western Reserve library, including the Untouchable's personal scrapbooks, has changed the way history views Eliot Ness.
The Playhouse production represents the play's first full production, although a Playhouse-sponsored reading led to a Best Mystery Play of 2004 nomination for the Edgar Allan Poe Award by the Mystery Writers of America.
A short 2002 film written and directed by Collins and starring Cornelison -- also entitled "Eliot Ness: An Untouchable Life" -- was filmed in collaboration Collins's longtime collaborator, Phil Dingeldein, of Rock Island's D-philms. The short won an Best Actor award for Cornelsion from the Iowa Motion Picture Association. Dingeldein will join Collins in Des Moines to capture the Playhouse performances on High Definition video.
This marks a first for the Playhouse -- a live performance designed specifially to be preserved as an independent film.
The Playhouse is Iowa's oldest and largest producing theatre. Located at the 42nd Street exit of I-235, the theatre has presented a full season of shows since 1919 and also offers a wide variety of educational experiences including classes for ages 3-1/2 to adult, theatre trips to New York, and volunteer opportunities onstage and backstage.
For more information on The Playhouse and "Eliot Ness: An Untouchable Life" contact The Playhouse box office at 515-277-6261.
"Eliot Ness: An Untouchable Life" Performances: August 18 - August 28, 2005
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, evening performances, times TBA.
Only Thursday performance: August 18 (preview night)
Sunday matinees times TBA