Virginia Rep's BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS to Open Next Week at Hanover Tavern

Virginia Repertory Theatre announces the opening of Brighton Beach Memoirs on Friday, July 15 at Hanover Tavern, 13181 Hanover Courthouse Road. The show runs through Sunday, August 28.

In this coming of age Neil Simon comedy, a Brooklyn teenager searches for identity and grapples with the mundane existence of his Jewish family. A semi-autobiographical portrait, Brighton Beach Memoirs humorously captures Simon's upbringing in 1930's America.

Director, Steve Perigard, is well known in the Richmond area where his work has been seen on the stages of Virginia Rep, Cadence Theatre, Richmond Shakespeare, Firehouse Theatre, Theatre Virginia, SPARC, Theatre VCU, Randolph Macon College, and Collegiate School where he currently serves as the Upper School Director of Theatre. He last directed Steel Magnolias and Last of Red Hot Lovers at Hanover Tavern. Other directing credits include Twelfth Night, Enchanted April, The Laramie Project, The Comedy of Errors and The Pillowman.

Virginia Rep welcomes recent VCU Theatre graduates Tyler Stevens and Trevor Craft in their Virginia Rep debuts in the role of Eugene and Stanley.

Returning to the stage at Hanover Tavern is Jill Bari Steinberg, longtime Virginia Rep actor and the recipient of two Phoebe Awards for acting. Steinberg will play the role of Kate Jerome, the family matriarch. She was last seen at Hanover Tavern in On Golden Pond.

Sara Heifetz returns to Virginia Rep in the role of Blanche Morton, Eugene's recently widowed aunt. Recent credits include Body Awareness with 5th Wall Theatre and The House At Pooh Corner and The Velveteen Rabbit with Virginia Rep's Children's Theatre. She is the recipient of last year's RTCC award for Best Supporting Actress in The Human Terrain.

Andrew C. Boothby will play the role of Jack Jerome, Eugene's father. Recent credits include Gypsy, South Pacific and Mame at Virginia Rep.

Also joining the cast: Meg Carnahan, a recent JMU graduate who was featured in Virginia Rep's Gypsy; Molly Nugent, a rising 8th grader at Holman Middle School who has performed with Virginia Rep since the age of ten.

The design team includes longtime Virginia Rep designer Terrie Powers, Virginia Rep's director of costumes, Sue Griffin and lighting designer, Zachary Townsend.

For tickets, contact the box office at 804-282-2620 or www.virginiarep.org. Full Price Tickets: $38. Discounted Group Rates and Rush tickets available. U-Tix for college and high school students $10. Available day of show by phone or in person. Student ID required. Evening performances at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Matinee performances at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday and select Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Virginia Repertory Theatre is the regional professional theatre in Richmond, Virginia. With a budget of $5 million, four distinct venues, an educational touring arm, and an annual audience over 530,000, Virginia Rep is one of the largest performing arts organizations in Central Virginia. Virginia Rep stages four seasons annually: the Signature Season at the Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre, Theatre Gym Season in partnership with Cadence Theatre Company, Virginia Rep's Children's Season at Willow Lawn, and the Hanover Tavern Season.

Pictured: (front to back) Tyler Stevens, Sara Heifetz, Molly Nugent, Andy Boothby, Meg Carnahan, Trevor Craft and Jill Bari Steinberg. Photo Credit: Jay Paul.