“A comedy triumph!”
― Times of London   

God's Fool is the new comedy based on veteran character actor Ken Richters' award-winning performance as Mark Twain, and features Emmy Award winner Jack Klugman as Heaven's Gatekeeper.

Presenter Alert! We are so pleased to welcome the great actor Jack Klugman to this unique production. Much like the Stage Manager in Our Town, Mr. Klugman as Heaven's Gatekeeper is positioned on the stage-right apron - talking with Mark Twain throughout the show.
 
In addition to the complete national touring production, Mr. Klugman has also pre-recorded his performance - allowing smaller markets to take advantage of his star power and book God's Fool starring Ken Richters and featuring the voice of Jack Klugman.
 
A brilliant solution and opportunity for any market! Present the original production, featuring Jack's performance live or on tape. Please contact the production office for booking details.

God's Fool is an evening-length, one intermission comedy with tour dates available for the 2008 - 2009 touring season.
      
  
The production team of Gerald Goehring and Douglas C. Evans (Frankenstein, The Musical and Raisin' Cane) present the original theatrical tour de force God's Fool.
 
On the evening of April 21, 1910, the world's most famous author and humorist finds himself at the gates of Heaven, defending his life. Still a little confused about what has happened, the old man (along with the audience) sees his life flash before his eyes. It is only after being greeted by the voice of a humorless bureaucrat guarding Heaven - and being reminded he once said, "Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company!" does Twain realize he is in for a long night.
 
Warning! This is not your grandfather's Mark Twain production.
        
Funny, thought-provoking, and occasionally politically incorrect, the production is based on the life and works of Mark Twain - with portions of the performance LOCALIZED with the news of the day. A fully structured and scripted production with the opportunity to ad-lib throughout! Before each show, Ken Richters scours the region's newspapers looking for what he calls, "grist for Mr. Twain's mill!" The result is a unique and memorable evening at the theater. Local issues and politicians are always the target of Mr. Twain's caustic wit - and those dignitaries brave enough to be in the audience will most certainly be the subject of a comment or two.

The production also offers a number of unique opportunities to promote the show, including a SPECIALLY DESIGNED PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN with a LOCAL TALENT SEARCH for a young boy who will make an appearance on-stage during the live performance.
 
  
Production History

Since 1981, Ken Richters as Mark Twain has been the toast of legitimate theaters throughout the United States and abroad. With over five hours of specially edited material on which to draw, his performance was known for taking on a new direction each time the curtain went up. Whether he was bringing Mark Twain to THE GREAT HALL at Worcester's MECHANICS HALL more than one hundred years after the author's first appearance, performing for an intimate live in-studio for his latest PBS comedy special - MARK TWAIN, AMERICA'S FIRST STAND-UP COMEDIAN!, or on international tour, Ken's performance maintained an air of spontaneity with every audience, large or small.

The award-winning production was first brought to national acclaim following a sold-out performance in Washington, D.C. Television and radio newscasts from across the country had great fun covering Mark Twain's salty comments to members of the UNITED STATES CONGRESS. Since that time, KEN RICHTERS AS MARK TWAIN has been presented more than 1000 times in all 50 states, Canada, and Europe.
 
The millennium found Ken Richters as Mark Twain sharing the stage with another great American author, TOM WOLFE, as part of HARPER'S MAGAZINE 150th ANNIVERSARY GALA celebration in New York. Following that performance, PBS hired him voice their controversial documentary series CULTURE SHOCK.
 
Ken's surprise performance as Twain was credited, by the executive director of the COMMISSION ON PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES, as one of the leading factors in choosing his hometown of Hartford, Connecticut as the site of one of that years two U.S. Presidential Debates. In addition, he has appeared as Mark Twain in print and TV commercials for AT&T and UNITED TECHNOLOGIES. 
    
The Reviews
  
“He brings America's most celebrated humorist out of the pages and into the flesh once more.”
― NBC Today Show    
 
“Behold the transformation!”
― San Diego Tribune   

“Mark Twain is alive and well and traveling the world with Ken Richters.”
― Los Angeles Times    
 
“A wild, wonderful, witty old man. Ken Richters as Mark Twain is a timeless brand of American humor.”
― New Haven Register   
 
“Mark Twain is America's beloved author, wit, humorist, curmudgeon, satirist, and lecturer ... Ken Richters' interpretation is masterful.”
― Washington Magazine   

“Ken Richters is a fine actor with a remarkable vocal range. He is comfortable as Twain and has him down to the finest detail. His gestures, facial expressions, and timing are impeccable.”
― Worcester Sunday Telegram