Playten, Alice 1947–

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Playten, Alice 1947–

(Alice Playton)

PERSONAL

Original name, Alice Plotkin; born August 28, 1947, in New York, NY. Education: Attended New York University.

Career: Actress, voice artist, and composer. Appeared in television commercials, including one for Alka-Seltzer pain reliever.

Awards, Honors: Theatre World Award, Antoinette Perry Award nomination, best featured actress in a musical, and Drama Critics' award, all 1968, for Henry Sweet Henry; Obie Award, outstanding performance, Village Voice, 1973, for National Lampoon's "Lemmings"; Drama Desk Award nomination, best featured actress in a play, 1989, for Spoils of War; Drama Desk Award nomination, for Rumors; Obie Award, outstanding performance, 1994, for First Lady Suite; Clio Award, for an Alka-Seltzer commercial.

CREDITS

Stage Appearances:

(Stage debut) Wozzeck (opera), Metropolitan Opera House, New York City, 1959.

Baby Louise, Gypsy (musical), Imperial Theatre, New York City, 1961.

Bet, Oliver! (musical), Imperial Theatre, 1963–64.

Ermengarde, Hello, Dolly! (musical), St. James Theatre, New York City, 1964.

Kafritz, Henry, Sweet Henry (musical), Palace Theatre, New York City, 1967.

Miss U, Promenade, Promenade Theatre, New York City, 1969–70.

Ingrid, "The Elevator," and Alice, "I Want to Walk to San Francisco," in The Last Sweet Days of Isaac, Eastside Playhouse, New York City, 1970–71, then Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati, OH, 1971.

Member of ensemble, National Lampoon's "Lemmings" (revue), Village Gate Theatre, New York City, 1973.

Young Libby, Valentine's Day, Manhattan Theatre Club, New York City, 1975.

A History of the American Film, Center Theatre Group, Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, 1976–77.

Ginny Tremaine, Sorrows of Stephen, New York Shakespeare Festival Public Theatre, New York City, 1979–80.

Edith, The Pirates of Penzance, New York Shakespeare Festival, Delacorte Theatre, Public Theatre, New York City, 1980.

The Admirable Crichton, Long Wharf Theatre, New Haven, CT, 1980–81.

Meg and Diane Symonds, The Actor's Nightmare and Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You (double-bill), Playwrights Horizons Theatre, New York City, 1982.

Dame Ellen Terry, The Actor's Nightmare and Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You (double-bill), Westside Arts Theatre Downstairs, New York City, both 1982.

Eden, That's It, Folks!, Playwrights Horizons Theatre, 1983.

Ronnie Roberts, Yankee Wives, Old Globe Theatre, San Diego, CA, 1983.

Eve, Up from Paradise, Jewish Repertory Theatre, New York City, 1983.

Emma, Spoils of War, Second Stage Theatre Company, McGinn-Cazale Theatre, then Music Box Theatre, later Promenade Theatre, all New York City, 1988.

Cookie Cusack, Rumors, Broadway production, 1989.

Ensemble Marathon Evening B, Ensemble Studio Theatre, New York City, 1990.

Title role, "Agnes," girl, "Eulogy for Mister Hammy," and Sherri, "Lucky Nurse," Four Short Operas, Playwrights Horizons Theatre, 1991.

The Mysteries and What's So Funny?, Alice Tully Hall, New York City, 1991, then Joyce Theatre, New York City, 1992.

Where's Mamie?, Ensemble Studio Theatre, 1993.

Lady Bird Johnson and Mamie Eisenhower, First Lady Suite, New York Shakespeare Festival, Susan Stein Shiva THeatre, New York City, 1993.

Punch and Judy Get Divorced, Plays and Players Theatre, Philadelphia, PA, 1996.

A Flea in Her Ear, Roundabout Theatre Company, Laura Pels Theatre, Criterion Center, New York City, 1998.

La La LaChiusa, Joe's Pub, Public Theatre, New York City, 2000.

Mrs. Mayor, Seussical (musical), Richard Rodgers Theatre, New York City, 2000–2001.

The Last Lousy Moments of Love: The Songs of Bolcum & Weinstein (concert), Joe's Pub, Public Theatre, 2001.

Grandma Gellman, Caroline; or, Change, New York Shakespeare Festival, Estelle R. Newman Theatre, Public Theatre, New York City, 2003–2004, then Eugene O'Neill Theatre, New York City, 2004.

Appeared in George M!, Palace Theatre, and in productions of The Hotel Play, Shlemiel the First, The Sorrows of Stephen, and A Visit, all New York City; also appeared in benefit performances.

Major Tours:

Baby Louise, Gypsy, U.S. cities, 1961.

Film Appearances:

Harriet, Ladybug, Ladybug, United Artists, 1963.

Della Isadore, Who Killed Mary What's 'er Name? (also known as Death of a Hooker), Cannon, 1971.

Goldie Oldie and other roles, Lemmings (also known as National Lampoon's Lemmings and National Lampoon's "Lemmings"), 1973.

Corrine, California Dreaming, American International Pictures, 1979.

Voice of Gloria, Heavy Metal (animated), Columbia, 1981.

Voice of demons, Amityville II: The Possession, Orion, 1982.

Blix, Legend (also known as Legend: Ultimate Edition), Universal, 1985.

Voices of Baby Lickety Split and first bushwoolie, My Little Pony (animated; also known as My Little Pony: The Movie), De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, 1986.

Voice of Una, Le Big Bang (also known as The Big Bang), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1987.

Voices of the princess and the queen, Petronella, 1990.

(As Alice Playton) Voice, Felix the Cat: The Movie, 1991.

Mrs. Priscilla Bailey, For Love or Money (also known as The Concierge), Universal, 1993.

Gretchen, I.Q., Paramount, 1994.

Alice, MURDER and Murder, Zeitgeist Films, 1996.

Marriage counselor, Pants on Fire, Shadow Distribution, 1998.

Voices of Beebe Bluff and Elmo, Doug's 1st Movie (animated; also known as The First Doug Movie Ever), Buena Vista, 1999.

Mother, Pioneer 12, 1999.

Television Appearances; Series:

Masquerade, PBS, 1971.

Alice, The Lost Saucer, syndicated, 1975–76.

Alice, That's Cat, syndicated, 1977.

Voices of Beebe Bluff and Elmo, Disney's "Doug" (animated; also known as Brand Spanking New! Doug and New Doug), ABC, 1996.

Mrs. Lovejoy, As the World Turns, CBS, 2005.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Voice of Nutshell Kid, Really Rosie: Starring the Nutshell Kids (animated), CBS, 1975.

"Me and Dad's New Wife," ABC Afterschool Special, ABC, 1976.

Judy, Punch and Judy Get Divorced, PBS, 1992.

Voice, Doug's Secret Christmas, ABC, 1996.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Sergeant "Lizard" Gossamer, Over and Out, NBC, 1976.

Oona Dowd, The Cosby Mysteries (also known as Guy Hanks I), NBC, 1994.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Toast of the Town (also known as The Ed Sullivan Show), 1967.

"The Moving Finger," Monsters, 1991.

Voice of Beebe Bluff, "Doug Can't Dance/Doug Gets Busted," Doug (animated), Nickelodeon, 1991.

Voice of Parrat, Ghostwriter, PBS, 1992.

Voice of Jane Smith, "Caller I.D.," Remember WENN, 1997.

New York Undercover, Fox, 1998.

Bonnie, "Our Parents, Ourselves," Frasier, NBC, 1999.

Bonnie, "Shutout in Seattle: Parts 1 & 2," Frasier, NBC, 1999.

Sandy, "The Self-Importance of Being Carlos," Third Watch, NBC, 2001.

Dog walker, "Who Let the Dogs Out?," Law & Order, NBC, 2001.

Mrs. Lynch, "A Very Great Man," The Education of Max Bickford, CBS, 2001.

Francesca, "Assignation," The Book of Daniel, NBC, 2006.

Francesca, "Acceptance," The Book of Daniel, NBC, 2006.

Appeared as Alice, "The Lost Saucer," The Krofft Super-show (also known as The Krofft Superstar Hour).

Television Appearances; Other:

Disco Beaver from Outer Space (movie; also known as National Lampoon Presents "Disco Beaver from Outer Space" and National Lampoon's "Disco Beaver from Outer Space"), 1978.

Edith Stanley, The Pirates of Penzance, 1980.

Radio Appearances:

Performed in A Prairie Home Companion.

RECORDINGS

Videos:

Creating a Myth … The Memories of "Legend," Universal Studios Home Video, 2002.

Albums:

Contributor to the original cast albums of Hello, Dolly!, RCA, and Henry, Sweet Henry, ABC.

WRITINGS

Television Music; Movies:

Composer, Disco Beaver from Outer Space (also known as National Lampoon's "Disco Beaver from Outer Space"), 1978.

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals:

American Theatre, October, 2000, p. 109.