Sarah O'Donell
Ditko — playwright Lenny Schwartz’s captivating stage play about Spider-Man co-creator Steve Ditko — is making its way to the late comic book artist’s hometown of Johnstown, Pennsylvania this October.
The Daydream Theatre Company is thrilled to announce that Ditko will be performed at the State Theater of Johnstown on October 1, 2023 at 1 p.m. This incredible performance will be a highlight of Ditko Con, a local convention organized by the Bottle Works Ethnic Art Center to honor Johnstown’s very own comic book hero. Don’t miss out on this extraordinary event! Tickets for the play are available for $10 in advance and $15 at the door. And here’s a special treat for online ticket buyers: a fantastic two-for-$15 discount when you use the code “DITKO” at checkout.
Ditko, written and directed by the talented Schwartz, features an incredible cast including Derek Laurendeau, Geoff White, Emily Lamarre, Samantha Acampora, Anne Wareham Bowman, J.P. Cottam, Timothy DeLisle, and Lionel LaFleur. This captivating play beautifully tells the story of Steve Ditko, a comic book illustrator who may have been forgotten by the masses, but is cherished by comic book fans worldwide.
The Daydream Theatre Company previously wowed audiences with a two-night performance of Ditko at Theaterlab in New York City back in October 2019. But that’s not all! Schwartz has also created another remarkable biographical play about a historically unsung comic book creator. He wrote and directed Bill Finger: Rise of the Bat, which chronicles the life and achievements of Bill Finger, the co-creator of DC’s Batman in 1939, who finally received proper credit alongside Bob Kane in 2015.
Steve Ditko’s comic book legacy
Steve Ditko, born in Johnstown on November 2, 1927, is best known for his incredible contributions to Marvel’s Spider-Man alongside Stan Lee in 1962. In addition to the web-slinger, Ditko also co-created a multitude of iconic characters in Spidey’s world, including Aunt May, Uncle Ben, Gwen Stacy, Mary Jane Watson, J. Jonah Jameson, Betty Brant, Ned Leeds, Flash Thompson, Harry Osborn, Green Goblin, Mysterio, Vulture, Kraven the Hunter, and many more.
But Ditko’s creative genius didn’t stop there. Alongside Lee, he also brought Marvel’s Doctor Strange to life, along with a host of supporting characters for the Sorcerer Supreme. And let’s not forget his contributions to DC, where he created or co-created characters such as Ted Kord/Blue Beetle, Shade the Changing Man, the Question, Hawk and Dove, Captain Atom, and Nightshade.
Despite his immense talent and prolific creations, Ditko was famously private, rarely granting interviews or making public appearances. He sadly passed away on June 29, 2018, at the age of 90, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy.
Don’t miss your chance to experience Ditko at the State Theater of Johnstown on October 1. Secure your tickets now by visiting StateTheaterJohnstown.Ticketleap.com or calling 814-205-3528. And for even more insight into the life of Steve Ditko, join Lenny Schwartz and Ditko’s family for the captivating “Who was Steve Ditko?” panel at New York Comic Con on October 14.
