PIPER LAURIE (Ruth), this year's Academy Award nominee for her starring role in "The Hustler", is making her summer stock debut this season. She was twice nominated for an Emmy Award. Miss Laurie who recently married Joseph Morgenstern, the well-known New York Herald Tribune newspaperman. Piper became an important studio 'property' but she also became increasingly unhappy and restless. Her Hollywood studio, Universal, had fashioned her as a glamour girl, but Piper was looking for something 'meatier' to do. Through hard work, willingness to wait for the right parts, a refusal to be 'typed' and determination to part with 'cute' publicity, she managed to reverse the public image of herself as a mere Hollywood beauty. She is recognized today as one of the finest serious actresses of screen, stage and television- so much in fact, that she deliberately chose 'Wedding Breakfast', with its light comedy character, as a change of pace. 'Kelly and Me' was her last film for Universal before she won her freedom for a long-term contract. She appeared in 'Quality Town' where she was in turn seen- and recommended- by Joseph. L. Mankiewicz, the writer-director. After that, her striking looks and talents captured the imagination of the critics. Her last performance in 'The Hustler' came when, Robert Rossen, the producer-director, remembered seeing her at an Actor's Studio performance of 'Rosemary'.
ROBERT RICHARDS (Ralph), who directs and appears in 'Wedding Breakfast,' was a leading man in his first film role. He played opposite Shirley Temple in 'Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm'. He and his leading lady were eight at the time. When his voice began to change, his parts followed suit. Soon, he was appearing with such stars as Katherine Hepburn, Lucille Ball, Esther Williams and Jane Wyman. Recent television assignments have included the Loretta Young Show, Tales of Wells Fargo, Maverick, Lux Theatre and several Matinee Theatres. He is currently starring in the film 'Louisiana Hussey'. Increasingly, he has turned his talents to writing and directing. 'Wedding Breakfast' in the second time time he has directed Piper Laurie. Some years ago, in California, he directed her in a one-act play by Tennessee Williams, 'This Property is Condemned'.
Operatives from Universal-International Studios discovered Miss Laurie in the production and signed her to her first motion picture contract.
Also active in the theatre, he played in 'Mr. Roberts', 'Ring Around the Moon', 'Stalag 17', and toured opposite Ilona Massey in 'Angel in Paris' In Los Angeles, he appeared in Clifford Odets' 'The Flowering Peach.'

The play itself was a comedy in three acts set in New York City, first act was the present (1962). The action took place in the Gorman sisters; apartment in Manhattan's East 40's; in Norman's living room in Greenwich Village; and at the Central Park Zoo. Act I: May and June, Act II: July and Act III: The same.