Michael Heintzman’s Career Percolates Thanks to ‘Cup of Coffee’

Michael Heintzman, who stars as the affable coffee salesman Jimmy MacDonald in the Pasadena Playhouse production of Preston Sturges’ comedy “A Cup of Coffee,” is a former class clown.

“I did a lot of impressions,” says the native of Bismarck, N.D. “But I was terrified of doing plays.”

Heintzman got over his stage fright during his freshman year in college at North Dakota State University when Ted Mack of the famed “Amateur Hour” arrived in town with his talent tour.

“A buddy of mine said, ‘You got to do it,’ ” he recalls. “So I am sitting in class one day and I wrote a five-minute piece on the first moon landing. I put John Wayne in Neil Armstrong’s (part) and I had Walter Brennan and Jimmy Stewart in it and Elvis on the radio.”

There were 19 acts who vied for the prize money.

“I went up and they started laughing immediately,” Heintzman says. “(The judges) picked the final four and Ted came over and presented me with the first place. I won a $100 bill.”

Heintzman originated the role of Jimmy in “Coffee” four years ago at New York’s Soho Rep. The actor says he didn’t think he had a chance of reprising Jimmy in the Pasadena production. “I thought they were probably going to get some TV or movie star to do it. It’s a great part.”

After much lobbying, Heintzman got the part four days before his May 23 wedding to actress Patti Pelican. The problem was Heintzman had bought non-refundable plane tickets for a long June honeymoon in London, Ireland and Paris and “Coffee” rehearsals coincided with their honeymoon. “There were no refunds except for (with) a doctor’s note,” he says.

But Pelican proved to be very understanding. “(She) knows how much this play means to me,” he says. So Heintzman bought two more plane tickets and they cut their honeymoon short. But he’s still trying to get a refund. “Actually, the travel agent called the other day and said, ‘It’s not dead yet!’ ”