I Ought to Be in Pictures
I Ought to Be in Pictures is a comedy drama play written by Neil Simon, his 18th. The play opened on Broadway in 1980. It was subsequently made into a film, released in 1982. The play involves a film screenwriter who has abandoned his family, and his daughter who arrives at his home, seeking his help in becoming an actress.
Production
Produced by Emanuel Azenberg, the play had its premiere at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles in 1979, with Tony Curtis as Herb. After 17 previews, the Broadway production, directed by Herbert Ross, opened on April 3, 1980, at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, where it ran for 324 performances. Ron Leibman as Herb, Dinah Manoff as Libby and Joyce Van Patten as Steffy comprised the cast. Bill Macy and Dick Latessa subsequently portrayed Herb.Dinah Manoff won the 1980 Tony Award, Best Featured Actress in a Play.
Plot overview
The three-character comedy-drama involves Herbert Tucker, a struggling screenwriter with writer's block who abandoned his New York family 16 years earlier. His daughter Libby arrives at the West Hollywood home of her father, who she barely remembers. She is convinced that he can give her the Hollywood acting career she desires.Filled with guilt and demanding love, Libby not only forces Herb to deal with the responsibilities of parenthood, but to come to terms with his on-again/off-again relationship with girlfriend Steffy.