he stage of the Olympian Theater at Jim Thorpe Area High School has been transformed into a modern-day eatery. Counters stacked with cups and coffee makers, tables covered with classic red and white checked tablecloths and booths were all wheeled out Monday night during the first dress rehearsal for a two-decades in the making musical.

"As The Matzo Ball Turns," first debuted as a semi-auto-biographical story of writer Gene Duffy's travel to and through Hollywood.According to the author's description, the story is an "adventure of a starry-eyed fish out of water landing in Hollywood to pursue a career on the silver screen. It is filled with surprises the whole way through. An awe-struck Jozef Rothstein initially searches for meaningful employment until he lands his first waiting gig in a fast-paced 24-hour deli that caters to the entertainment industry by day and the L.A. party scene by night.""I spent 10 years of my life trying to break into show business. There were a lot of injustices done to me and things that stood out in society, so I had to speak out. We make fun of celebrity worship and Hollywood," Duffy said.The three-and-a-half-hour musical production is billed as an adult "dark comedy" with styles ranging from rock 'n' roll to jazz and a few tap dance numbers thrown in for good measure."It took four years to write the script for the show and the music," Duffy said."The ground work was already established from the book. The rest just kind of came to me. The melodies just started to flow. It punched its way out of me. (The story) had to be told."The biggest challenge wasn't the sheet music however, it was finding the right cast to encompass Duffy's self-published novel."I've been all over Pennsylvania relentlessly looking for a cast. We have someone from Coaldale, members from Easton and Allentown. (The cast has) been build locally really," he said.According to Duffy the cast varies in age and experience."Everyone in the show has at least one moment where they really shine."Duffy said he favors a particular dream sequence scene where the lead is feeling down in life. The scene is the catalyst that drives him to go forward. He meets his inner voice, played by Kate Hughes."She developed a great voice for the character that I never would've though of," Duffy said."I didn't think anyone was going to see the vision I had. I took a lot of time with the cast. I wrote the screenplay but wanted to let the actors develop the subtleties and details of the stories."According to the former Jim Thorpe resident, it took nine months to build the set pieces."We have some really great props."The 19-person cast and crew all have donned multiple hats in the production. Lead actor Sebastian Paff plays Rothstein, a caricature of Duffy during his younger days in the City of Angels. Paff has worked closely with Duffy on the vocal harmonies and also serves as the musical director for the play. Sara Viteri, associate producer and assistant director, plays Alexa Goode."Sunday was our first rehearsal on stage and it took nine hours," said Viteri.Viteri first signed onto the play as an actress, but added producer to her list of duties once the ball was rolling."I work with a production company, but this is my first musical," she said."We got the foundation of the dances and that evolved and changed as it went on. Spirits are high and everyone's excited to get the show on the road. It's been quite a ride," she said."It gives insight to what Gene went through trying to make it in Hollywood. The book is a little darker, the musical aspect lightens it up. It's a dark comedy with a light at the end of the tunnel."The curtain rises at 7 p.m. for opening night on Friday. Show time Saturday is at 2 and 7 p.m., and on Sunday, it's 3 p.m. The high school is located at 1 Olympian Way in Jim Thorpe.Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at

https://asthematzoballturnsthemusicaltickets.eventbrite.com."I'm proud of it. It's bold and brash. We have a cast that really makes it palpable. People are really missing out if they don't see this show," said Duffy.