Hole in the Wall Theater's OF MICE AND MEN Begins Tonight

The Hole in the Wall Theater (HITW) in New Britain, CT is proud to announce OF MICE AND MEN by John Steinbeck, the first production of its 2015-2016 season. OF MICE AND MEN is under the direction of Jill Ann Dvorsky (New Britain).

Performances run Fridays & Saturdays from tonight, September 25th through October 17th with one Sunday matinee on October 11th. Tickets are $20.00 (general admission) and $15.00 (students and seniors). They can be purchased at the door and online at www.hitw.org. The October 2nd performance will be our Pay-What-You-Can performance where you name the price of your ticket.

"This show spoke to me because it's about isolation and seeking connection," said Jill Ann. "That's something I struggle with. I think most people do and I find that beautiful."

Adapted by Steinbeck's 1937 novel of the same name, OF MICE AND MEN tells the story two drifters, George (Matthew Cote of New Britain) and his friend Lennie (James DeMarco of New Britain), with delusions of living off the "fat of the land." They have just arrived at a ranch to work for enough money to buy their own place. Lennie is a man-child, a little boy in the body of a dangerously powerful man. It's Lennie's obsessions with things soft and cuddly that have made George cautious about who the gentle giant, with his brute strength, associates with. His promise to allow Lennie to "tend to the rabbits" on their future land keeps Lennie calm, amidst distractions, as the overgrown child needs constant reassurance.

"I think this show is just so universal because from post-Industrial Revolution American onward, the plight of the lower class has stayed much the same," said James. "Many things have changes or improved, but it still comes down to every person having a right to hold on to their dignity."

Matt feels that although this piece was written several decades ago, modern day audiences can definitely relate to George and Lennie's story. "George has a dream of owning his own ranch and escaping the depression era. The times were hard then just as they are now. This show is about working towards a dream which everyone works so hard for these days.'

The HITW cast includes: Matthew Cote, James DeMarco, Eugene Tellier, Stephanie Layne (all from New Britain) & Scott Hoffman (Newington), Brian Bowyer (Bethlehem), Robb Ecker (New London), Nick Demetriades (Cromwell) and Drew Brathwaite (Manchester).

Hole in the Wall Theater (HITW) has been a leader and beacon in the Greater Hartford arts community since 1972. It is an award-winning, non-profit community theater and staffed entirely by volunteers.

HITW was founded by Ray Shinn and Ted Guhl; both of whom were instrumental in the theater's mission and longevity. It is HITW's goal to present theater to all regardless of resources. Unique in its creation as well as the manner in which it was run, HITW was the only theater in the state to run solely by its members through its biweekly gatherings, termed "General Meeting." General Meeting is responsible for choosing the plays presented, maintaining the physical plant, and creating, revising, and upholding the philosophy by which HITW was run.

Over the course of four decades, the theater has seen many homes throughout New Britain including Oak Street, North Street, Harvard Street, and its current home on Main Street. Despite its location, the philosophy of presenting Quality Theater to everyone remains the same.

Pictured: Matthew Cote & James DeMarco (both from New Britain) in a scene from John Steinbeck's OF MICE AND MEN.