Gloucester Stage Extends BLUE

Due to overwhelming demand Gloucester Stage has extended the New England Premiere of Israel Horovitz's Gloucester Blue through Sunday, October 11. Originally scheduled to close on Sunday, October 3, the additional performances are: Sunday, October 4 at 2pm; Wednesday, October 7 through Saturday, October 10 at 7:30 pm and Saturday October 10 and Sunday October 11at 2pm at 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA.

Directed by Mr. Horovitz, Gloucester Blue takes place in the attic loft of an old industrial building in The Fort section of Gloucester owned by the upscale Bradford Ellis IV also known as Bummy and his wife Lexi. Working class housepainter Stumpy has been contracted to refurbish the building and he has hired Latham, friend-of-a-friend, to help him complete the job. As the play opens, Stumpy and Latham are hard at work, spackling damaged walls and applying fresh plaster and primer. Out of work for the last six months Latham is grateful for the job. When Lexi shows up with paint color samples, a story of intrigue, seduction, betrayal and money is set into motion in this dark comedy. According to author and director Horovitz, "If I look at Gloucester Blue as though someone else wrote it, I would describe it as a very dark, very funny play about class distinctions. In Gloucester-speak, it's The Fort versus Eastern Point. In theatre-speak, I think Gloucester Blue is a really fun evening of theatre."

Gloucester Stage Founding Artistic Director Horovitz. directs a cast featuring Lewis D. Wheeler and Esme Allen as the upscale couple Bummy and Lexi, and Francisco Solorzano and Gloucester Stage Artistic Director Robert Walsh as housepainters Stumpy and Latham. "One thing I so appreciate about Israel's work is his intense desire to keep exploring new avenues of style, content, and conflict - all essential pieces of good playwriting," Walsh, a frequent actor in and director of Horovitz's work explains, "For as comfortable as he is with dark comedy, Gloucester Blue represents an even newer pursuit of the tools and nuances of that genre's storytelling components."

Gloucester Blue is the latest in Horovitz's series of Gloucester-based plays that include North Shore Fish, Henry Lumper, Park Your Car in Harvard Yard, Fighting Over Beverley and Sins of the Mother, all of which were first produced at Gloucester Stage and went on to successful runs nationally and internationally. "Gloucester Blue has already found audiences in developmental productions in Seattle, Florida's Delray Beach and New York City," Horovitz says, "I'm delighted to finally bring this play home to Gloucester."

Israel Horovitz's Gloucester Blue is extended through Sunday, October 11 at Gloucester Stage. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm. Ticket prices are $28 for all performances. Tickets are $1 for ages 25 years and under for all performances. The $1 tickets are cash only and available at the door on day of performance only. All performances are held at 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA. For more information and to purchase tickets, call the Gloucester Stage Box Office at 978-281-4433 or visit www.gloucesterstage.com.