Bob Cessna
Encyclopedia
Bob Cessna was an American actor, scriptwriter and playwright who appeared on Broadway in many roles. He wrote several several off Broadway and off off Broadway plays. He also wrote for television.
Cessna died on August 2, 2008 at the age of 73 at New York Hospital after a battle with lung cancer.
. He graduated from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC with a degree in Drama.
Cessna made Woodstock his home during the last few years of his life, where he was active in the arts. His domestic partner and beloved companion of 44 years is the Woodstock artist and founding member of the singing duo Twinn Connexion
Gerald "Jerry" Hopkins.
that included Alan Bennett
. He replaced Dudley Moore
on Broadway and after a national tour he continued to play Moore's roles. He returned to New York City and reopened at the Barrymore Theater.
Cessna's performances in the Mad Show
at New York's New Theater are still remembered for their versatility.
Cessna's play First Week in Bogota was the first to open Playwrights Horizons. Other plays that were produced include The Blue Moon, A Family Comedy, Trios, To Dress a Naked Window, Final Vows, and A Few of the Usual Nudes. His musical, Werewulff, written with William David Brohn
, was produced at the Hartke Theater in Washington, DC to sold out audiences.
and Another World
. Shortly before his death he completed Twinn Connexion, a screenplay based on the Grammy-nominated singing duo Twinn Connexion
, which was composed of Cessna's life partner Jerry Hopkins and Jerry's identical twin brother. Cessna also served as the duo's manager.
Cessna died on August 2, 2008 at the age of 73 at New York Hospital after a battle with lung cancer.
Personal Life and Education
Robert Thomas Cessna was born on December 17, 1934 in Punxsutawney, PennsylvaniaPunxsutawney, Pennsylvania
Punxsutawney is a borough in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, United States, northeast of Pittsburgh. In 1907, Punxsutawney and Claysville boroughs were consolidated and incorporated as Greater Punxsutawney. A high-grade soft coal was mined in the surrounding region...
. He graduated from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC with a degree in Drama.
Cessna made Woodstock his home during the last few years of his life, where he was active in the arts. His domestic partner and beloved companion of 44 years is the Woodstock artist and founding member of the singing duo Twinn Connexion
Twinn Connexion
Twinn Connexion was the singing duo of identical twin brothers Jerry and Jay Hopkins. They were signed with Decca Records and released a self-titled album in 1968 with songs by Jerry Keller and David Blume. Their musical style consisted of pop harmonies influenced by the soft rock and folk rock...
Gerald "Jerry" Hopkins.
Acting career
Cessna began his professional career as the understudy for the British cast of Beyond the FringeBeyond the Fringe
Beyond the Fringe was a British comedy stage revue written and performed by Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Alan Bennett, and Jonathan Miller. It played in London's West End and then on New York's Broadway in the early 1960s, and is widely regarded as seminal to the rise of satire in 1960s Britain.-The...
that included Alan Bennett
Alan Bennett
Alan Bennett is a British playwright, screenwriter, actor and author. Born in Leeds, he attended Oxford University where he studied history and performed with The Oxford Revue. He stayed to teach and research mediaeval history at the university for several years...
. He replaced Dudley Moore
Dudley Moore
Dudley Stuart John Moore, CBE was an English actor, comedian, composer and musician.Moore first came to prominence as one of the four writer-performers in the ground-breaking comedy revue Beyond the Fringe in the early 1960s, and then became famous as half of the highly popular television...
on Broadway and after a national tour he continued to play Moore's roles. He returned to New York City and reopened at the Barrymore Theater.
Cessna's performances in the Mad Show
The Mad Show
The Mad Show is an Off-Broadway musical revue based on Mad Magazine. The music is by Mary Rodgers, the book by Larry Siegel and Stan Hart. The show's various lyricists include Siegel, Marshall Barer, Steven Vinaver, and Stephen Sondheim.-Production:...
at New York's New Theater are still remembered for their versatility.
Playwright
Cessna's plays were produced off Broadway and in various workshops. He was a playwright member of the 42nd Street Workshop and the Algonquin Theater Company.Cessna's play First Week in Bogota was the first to open Playwrights Horizons. Other plays that were produced include The Blue Moon, A Family Comedy, Trios, To Dress a Naked Window, Final Vows, and A Few of the Usual Nudes. His musical, Werewulff, written with William David Brohn
William David Brohn
William David Brohn is an American arranger and orchestrator, best known for his theatre scores of musicals such as Miss Saigon, Ragtime and Wicked...
, was produced at the Hartke Theater in Washington, DC to sold out audiences.
Scriptwriter
Cessna was also a scriptwriter for The DoctorsThe Doctors
The Doctors is a soap opera which aired on NBC Daytime from April 1, 1963, to December 31, 1982. There were 5280 episodes produced, with the 5000th episode airing in November 1981...
and Another World
Another World (TV series)
Another World is an American television soap opera that ran on NBC from May 4, 1964 to June 25, 1999. It ran for a total of 35 years. It was created by Irna Phillips along with William J...
. Shortly before his death he completed Twinn Connexion, a screenplay based on the Grammy-nominated singing duo Twinn Connexion
Twinn Connexion
Twinn Connexion was the singing duo of identical twin brothers Jerry and Jay Hopkins. They were signed with Decca Records and released a self-titled album in 1968 with songs by Jerry Keller and David Blume. Their musical style consisted of pop harmonies influenced by the soft rock and folk rock...
, which was composed of Cessna's life partner Jerry Hopkins and Jerry's identical twin brother. Cessna also served as the duo's manager.