OLD HEART A new movie adapted from Peter Ferry’s acclaimed novel — Coming Spring 2025
Cast
Edward Gaines (Old Tom Johnson)
Diane Van Wesep (Pim De Witt)
Eva Doueiri (Sarah van Praag)
Jamelle Sargent (Young Tom Johnson)
Kurt Schroeder (Dickie Drummond)
Zaneta Adams
(Ella Mostert)
Shannon Huneryager
(Anne-Marie Dekker)
Martha Kallenbach
(Jeanette de Jong)
Roosevelt Johnson
(Anton Smits)
Shelley Irwin
(Renate)
Jeffrey Holmes
(Hendrik)
Robin Erdman
(Nurse)
Arn Boezart
(Homeowner)
Susan Eyler
(Librarian)
The play
“Thoroughly enjoyed the play. Melanie Lamrock was outstanding.”
—Peter Bhatia, Editor-in-chief, Detroit Free Press.
Old Heart, directed by Kirk Wahamaki and Lesley Witt is on stage at Muskegon Community College’s Overbrook Theater May 20 (7 p.m.) and May 21, 2023 (2 p.m.) The play premiered at Detroit’s Redford Theater last May and will be presented by the Vero Beach Florida Theater Guild in February 2024. Adapted from Peter Ferry’s award-winning novel, Old Heart is an inspiring mixed race love story that illuminates the courage of two young people fighting to save lives in a divided country at the war’s end.”
Joe Carmolli
(The Mayor)
Dakiya Covington
(Christina)
T.J. Williams
(Brooks)
Sophia Kelly Anderson
(Police Officer)
Mark Lewis
(Detective)
Chiquetta Bunts Wood
(Nora Panco)
Darreco Scott
(Daniel Pecora)
Trina Sandifer
(Julia Johnson)
Robert Cicchini
(Captain VanderArk)
Pete Bosheff
(Bicyclist)
Carin Verstappen
(Dental Receptionist)
Roger Rapoport
(Airport Porter)
Crew
Directors: Kirk Wahamaki and Leslye Witt
Producer/Screenwriter: Roger Rapoport
Director of Photography: David Darling
Cinematographer/Rough Cut Editor : Tyler Joslin
Editor: Gene Gamache
Dailies Editor/EPK/Camera Alex Bernhardt
Brabant Camera Operators: Bente van Berkel and Timo van Hees
Costumer: Susan Eyler
Composer: Garth Neustader
Dutch Script Consultant and Dialogue Coach: Geert Niland
Script Consultants: Richard Riehle, Edward Richter, Joni Zwart
Sound Recordists: Pete Bosheff, Ashley Ruiter
Camera/Sound Assistant/ EPK Videographer : Austin Muratori
Website Graphic Designer: James Sparling
Production Assistants: Thomas Johnson, Falon McCormick
Marketing: Amelila Schmitz
Special Consutant: Karl King
Consultants: Fred Ramey, Greg Michaelson, Mieke Kerkels, Joachim Fleury, Nancy van Dijck, Sojert Bossers, Ian Kenny, Mieke Kierkels, Chris Dickon, Sebastiaan Volk, Robert Catsburg, Aviva Kempner
Locations
Veldhoven; Netherlands: Geert Niland, Pim Sybesma, Jacobien Jansen, Carin Verstappen, Mirjam Bazelmans, Geert Niland.
Michigan: Grand Rapids Airport:Haley Abbas
Muskegon: Helen Sherman, Barbara Delello, John Derbin, Hackley Public Library/Torrent House Joe Zappacosta; Muskegon Area District Library/Ron Suszek, Sarah Rinsema; West Michigan Dock & Market, Jeff Whalen, Max McKee; Trinity Health/Rebecca Harding; Muskegon Surgery Center/Mary Deminck; Great Lakes Dental Excellence/Theresa Hegedus, Jessica Lambert, Shelly Reilly, Brandon Bringedahl, Tim Reilly, James Hegedus, Lumbertown Dental Wellness/Jim and Linda Donley; Ryke’s Bakery, Witt Service/Jan Witt. Ryke’s Bakery Barbara Delello, John Derbin. Dan Sutherland, Martha Ferriby
Actor Accomodations: Greg and Ann Moss, Ann Kufta, Barbara Delello and John Derbin
The story
Old Heart tells the story of African American GI Tom Johnson who joins forces with 24-year-old Sarah van Praag and the Dutch resistance to smuggle food and supplies from the liberated south across Nazi lines to starving cities in the northern Netherlands. Their brief love affair collapses at the war’s end, and sixty years later Johnson, about to be sent off to assisted living by his family, disappears on a flight to Amsterdam. While his children desperately try to locate him, Johnson is determined to track down Sarah. See the trailer here.
The novel
Hear Peter Ferry’s Interview with WGN’s Rick Kogan.
Peter Ferry’s award-winning novel Old Heart (Unbridled Books, 978-1-60953-117-1), has garnered a steadily widening readership since its first appearance in 2015. Dave Eggers called the book “astonishing.” The Chicago Tribune says the novel “will stay with you for keeps.” And Publishers Weekly asserts the novel is “life-affirming.”