Retro Productions to Present 'The Tender Trap' November 6-22

At the dawn of the atomic age, before Boeing Boeing and Doris Day rom-coms, there was THE TENDER TRAP, a light sex comedy about a New York bachelor and the various women seeking to marry him. The play later became a hit movie with Frank Sinatra and Debbie Reynolds. Written by Max Shulman and Robert Paul Smith, the show is being presented by Retro Productions at the Spoon Theatre, located at 38 West 38th Street, November 6th - 22nd, 2008. This will be the first New York production of THE TENDER TRAP since its 1954 Broadway  premiere. The production will be an Equity Showcase (AEA Approval pending), and will be directed by David Storck. (Casting will be announced in the coming weeks.)
 
Unlikely ladies' man and pharmaceutical sales rep Charlie Reader has found the secret to having lots of eligible women at his beck and call, as he explains to visiting married friend Joe McCall who's just arrived from the home office: just let it be known that you're single. Once word gets out, dozens of women appear out of nowhere - doing everything from cleaning his apartment to picking up groceries - all in the hope they might end up with his ring on their finger. After all, it wasn't so long ago that if a lady wasn't married by the time she turns 30, her chances of finding a man were rather slim!
 
But Charlie's life is about to take a dramatic turn. His friend Joe has come to New York not only to tell him about his amazing scientific breakthrough (it seems he's discovered the cure for the common cold), but also because he's grown tired of married life back in Indianapolis. Pretty soon, Joe's eye wanders toward the lovely Sylvia Crewes, one of Charlie's hopeful "ladies in waiting," a fact that makes Charlie begin to really appreciate her for the first time. But Charlie, Joe and Sylvia are all completely unprepared for the "take-no-prisoners" approach of one Julie Gillis, a young woman with her own designs on Charlie, and who is determined to march him down the aisle, even if she has to use the dreaded "L" word (love!) to do it. With Joe contemplating leaving his wife, Charlie trying to find happiness with the right girl and a discovery that might make Charlie and Joe rich beyond their wildest dreams, things will never be the same again.
 
Max Shulman's (1919-1988) other Broadway credits include the musical comedies Barefoot Boy With Cheek (1947), based on his novel, and How Now Dow Jones (1967); as well as the 1949 musical revue All for Love. He created, produced and wrote numerous episodes for the 1959-1963 television series "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis,"(he created the character in 1945) and penned the 1982 TV-movie, "Help Wanted: Male." He also wrote the 1958 novel "Rally 'Round The Flag, Boys!" which was made into a movie starring Paul Newman and JoAnne Woodward.
 
THE TENDER TRAP was Robert Paul Smith's (1915-1977) only work to appear on Broadway. Among his other writing credits were the novels "So It Doesn't Whistle," "The Journey," "Because of My Love," and "The Time and the Place." He also worked as a writer for CBS Radio.
 
Director David Storck's credits include The Crucible (Santa Rosa Summer Repertory Theatre), The Beauty Queen of Leenane (Centerstage, NYC), Gone in 60 Secs (Brooklyn College/Harrogate Theatre, England) and Poop: A True Story (New York International Fringe Festival. David was Artistic Director of Gotham City Improv for five years and has performed in and directed countless improvised and scripted comedies. His work has been seen at The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, The People's Improv Theater, Caroline's and many others. On Broadway, he served as an assistant on The Lion King.
 
Nominated for 8 New York Innovative Theatre Awards in 2008, Retro Productions is a not-for-profit company whose mission is to present works of "retro theatre." Retro is defined as "involving, relating to, or reminiscent of things past." Currently a resident acting company at the Spoon Theatre, Retro Productions strives to tell good theatrical stories which have a historical perspective - with an emphasis on the 20th century - in order to broaden our own understanding of the world we live in. Past productions include: Casey Kurtti's Catholic School Girls (2005), Doris Baizley's Mrs. California (2006), Emily Mann's Still Life (2007), A.R. Gurney's What I Did Last Summer (2007) and Sally Nemeth's Mill Fire (2008).
 
In their review of Mill Fire, nytheatre.com noted that "Retro Productions does a fine job of bringing small town America to life... I felt pulled into the story by the talent of the cast." After seeing the production of Still Life, Ms. Mann commented, "Retro is clearly a company dedicated to creating impeccable work that truly matters." Retro Production founder and company member Heather Cunningham's performance in Still Life was chosen as Marc Miller's "Performances to Remember, 2007" for Backstage East.
 
Sets for THE TENDER TRAP will be designed by Jack and Rebecca Cunningham, who have created sets for the past three Retro shows, beginning with Still Life in 2007. Rebecca Cunningham was the Professor of Costume Design at Brooklyn College for 38 years and designed an estimated 60 productions there. In 2008 she was awarded the Distinguished Achievement Award in Costume Design from the United States Institute of Theater Technology.

Jack Cunningham was a staff designer for the Brooklyn College Opera in 1968/69 and has designed scenery for productions of opera, summer stock, off-off-Broadway and regional theatre, including the 1970 production of THE TENDER TRAP at Connecticut's Ivoryton Playhouse starring William Shatner. Both Jack and Rebecca have been nominated for a 2008 NYITA Award for their work on Mill Fire, while Rebecca also received a nomination for her costume work on What I Did Last Summer. The rest of the Retro Productions design team includes Ben Philipp (costume designer), Kerrie Lovercheck (lighting designer 2008 NYITA nominee), Heather Cunningham (property designer) and Bobby McGinnis (sound designer). The production will be stage managed by Larry Pease.
 
Running from November 6th to November 22nd, THE TENDER TRAP will be performed at the Spoon Theatre, located at 38 West 38th Street, between 5th & 6th Avenues on the 5th Floor. Show times are Monday-Wednesday-Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm. There will be an additional performance on Saturday, November 8th at 2pm.

Tickets: $18.00. TDF Vouchers accepted. Reservations: 212-352-3101 or www.retroproductions.org. This play is being produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc. Press are invited to all performances.

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