Ava Gardner was one of the Hollywood's great beauties; "a goddess," as described by band leader Artie Shaw, her second husband. She even played a goddess in ONE TOUCH OF VENUS.The daughter of a North Carolina tobacco share-cropper, she was adored and, at times, scorned by her fans. Her many film credits include such classics as THE KILLERS, SHOW BOAT, THE SNOWS OF KILIMANJARO, MOGAMBO and THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA. AVA & HER GUYS, set in 1966, finds a frightened Ms. Gardner ensconced in a bungalow at the Beverly Hills Hotel, avoiding violent actor George C. Scott, who has been stalking her.Her efforts to reach third husband and the "great love" of her life, Frank Sinatra, for help have failed. Now, with a drink in her hand, Ava revisits the life choices she's made, as well as her relationships with Sinatra, Shaw, first husband Mickey Rooney, billionaire Howard Hughes and other men, that have brought her to this fragile moment.1 woman; 3 men; single set.
Author Biography:
Michael B. Druxman is a veteran Hollywood screenwriter whose credits include CHEYENNE WARRIOR with Kelly Preston; DILLINGER AND CAPONE starring Martin Sheen and F. Murray Abraham; and THE DOORWAY with Roy Scheider, which he also directed. He is also a prolific playwright, his one-person play, JOLSON, having had numerous productions around the country. Other produced stage credits include one-person plays about Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, Spencer Tracy and Orson Welles. Additionally, Mr. Druxman is the author of thirteen other published books, including several nonfiction works about Hollywood, its movies, and the people who make them (e.g., BASIL RATHBONE: His Life and His Films, MAKE IT AGAIN, SAM: A Survey of Movie Remakes, ONE GOOD FILM DESERVES ANOTHER: A Survey of Movie Sequels, MERV [Griffin] and THE MUSICAL: From Broadway to Hollywood). He has written three novels, NOBODY DROWNS IN MINERAL LAKE, SHADOW WATCHER and MURDER IN BABYLON, plus the humorous revisionist history, ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD: From the Secret Files of Harry Pennypacker, and FAMILY SECRET, a non-fiction book co-authored with Warren Hull, which reveals the true facts behind the 1947 murder of mobster "Bugsy" Siegel in Beverly Hills. An acknowledged Hollywood historian, he has also written television documentaries and has been interviewed for various retrospective featurettes that have accompanied DVD releases of classic films (e.g. THE MALTESE FALCON, etc.). Mr. Druxman is a former Hollywood publicist of 35 years experience who has represented many film and television stars, as well as noted directors, producers and composers. One of his Academy Award campaigns is often mentioned in books dealing with Oscar's history. He has taught various dramatic writing and film appreciation courses in an adult university and is the author of How to Write a Story...Any Story: THE ART OF STORYTELLING, which has been used as a text in several colleges. A native of Seattle who graduated from Garfield High School and the University of Washington, Mr. Druxman moved with his wife, Sandy, from Los Angeles to Austin, TX in 2009. His two memoirs, MY FORTY-FIVE YEARS IN HOLLYWOOD AND HOW I ESCAPED ALIVE and LIFE, LIBERTY & THE PURSUIT OF HOLLYWOOD, are published by Bear Manor Media.
