Karen Ziemba, David Bishins & More Lead Old Globe's Neil Simon Plays

Executive Producer Lou Spisto today announced the cast and creative team for Neil Simon's Brighton Beach Memoirs and Broadway Bound. Performed in repertory, Simon's semi-autobiographical plays follow the life of Eugene Morris Jerome from the foibles of youth in late-1930s Brooklyn to a career as a comedy writer for radio. Directed by Scott Schwartz, who directed last season's hit production of Lost in Yonkers, the two plays will run in the Old Globe Theatre Sept. 14 - Nov. 7. Preview performances of Brighton Beach Memoirs run Sept. 14 - Sept. 21. Brighton Beach Memoirs opens on Wednesday, Sept. 22 at 7:00 p.m. Preview performances of Broadway Bound run Sept. 17 - Sept. 23. Broadway Bound opens on Friday, Sept. 24 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are currently available to subscribers only. Single tickets go on sale Aug. 22 at 10:00 a.m. and can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office.

In Brighton Beach Memoirs, Eugene Morris Jerome is 15, living in late-1930s Brooklyn and thinks of little else but playing for the Yankees . . . and girls. But he's more suited to being a writer than a shortstop, and the girl of his dreams could never be the girl of his reality. His witty, perceptive commentary about his life and the struggles of his overworked father, overbearing mother, overconfident brother and overly-gorgeous cousin are poignant and insightful. Coming of age is never easy-but it can be hilarious.

In Broadway Bound, Eugene's career path is focused on writing rather than baseball - but he is still obsessed with un-gettable girls. What were once the innocent musings of a teenage boy are now the bread and butter of his writing career. When he and his brother Stanley get their big break as radio writers, and their family's struggles become writing-fodder for anyone to hear, he is forced to face the reality that even while living at home, with adulthood, comes consequences.

As previously announced, Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba will play Kate Jerome in the two plays. Ziemba has previously appeared at the Globe in Six Degrees of Separation and the world premiere of The First Wives Club - A New Musical.

The cast of Brighton Beach Memoirs features David Bishins (Jack Jerome), Bonnie Black (Blanche Morton), Sloan Grenz (Stanley Jerome), Austyn Myers (Eugene Jerome), Allie Trimm (Nora Morton), Julia Vanderwiel (Laurie Morton) and Karen Ziemba (Kate Jerome).

The cast of Broadway Bound features David Bishins (Jack Jerome), Bonnie Black (Blanche Morton), Howard Green (Ben Epstein), Joseph Parks (Stanley Jerome), Brandon Uranowitz (Eugene Jerome) and Karen Ziemba (Kate Jerome).

The creative team includes Ralph Funicello (Scenic Design), Alejo Vietti (Costume Design), Matthew McCarthy (Lighting Design), Paul Peterson (Sound Design), Michael Holland (Original Music), Jan Gist (Dialect Coach) and Diana Moser (Stage Manager).

Neil Simon has been represented on Broadway by Come Blow Your Horn, Little Me, Barefoot in the Park, The Odd Couple, Sweet Charity, The Star-Spangled Girl, Plaza Suite, Promises, Promises, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, The Gingerbread Lady, The Prisoner of Second Avenue, The Sunshine Boys, The Good Doctor, God's Favorite, California Suite, Chapter Two, They're Playing Our Song, I Ought to Be in Pictures, Fools, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biloxi Blues (1985 Tony Award), the female version of The Odd Couple, Broadway Bound, Rumors, Lost in Yonkers (1991 Pulitzer Prize, Tony Award), Jake's Women, The Goodbye Girl, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Proposals, The Dinner Party and 45 Seconds from Broadway. Off Broadway: London Suite. Films include Barefoot in the Park, The Odd Couple, The Out-of-Towners, Plaza Suite, The Heartbreak Kid, The Prisoner of Second Avenue, Murder by Death, The Sunshine Boys, The Goodbye Girl, The Cheap Detective, California Suite, Chapter Two, Seems Like Old Times, Only When I Laugh, I Ought to Be in Pictures, Max Dungan Returns, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biloxi Blues and Lost in Yonkers.

Scott Schwartz directed the Broadway productions of Golda's Balcony and Jane Eyre (co-directed with John Caird). He recently directed Lost in Yonkers at The Old Globe starring Judy Kaye. His Off Broadway work includes Bat Boy: The Musical (Lucille Lortel and Outer Critics Circle Awards, Outstanding Off Broadway Musical; Drama Desk nomination, Outstanding Director of a Musical), Tick, Tick... Boom! (Outer Critics Circle Award, Outstanding Off Broadway Musical; Drama Desk nomination, Outstanding Director of a Musical), Rooms: A Rock Romance, The Foreigner starring Matthew Broderick for Roundabout Theatre Company, Kafka's The Castle (Outer Critics Circle nomination, Outstanding Director of a Play), Miss Julie and No Way to Treat a Lady. He also directed Golda's Balcony on tour, in London, in Los Angeles at the Wadsworth Theater and in San Francisco at American Conservatory Theater. He directed the world premiere of Séance on a Wet Afternoon, a new opera starring Lauren Flanigan, at Opera Santa Barbara and will restage this production at New York City Opera in the Spring of 2011. Schwartz's other recent credits include Othello and Much Ado About Nothing at the Alley Theatre; Backwards in High Heels, a new musical about Ginger Rogers, at the Asolo Repertory Theatre in Florida; and a reinvisioning of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at Paper Mill Playhouse, Theatre Under The Stars, Theatre on the Square and North Shore Music Theater (2008 IRNE Award, Outstanding Director of a Musical).

Karen Ziemba's Broadway credits include Contact (Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards), Curtains (Tony Award nomination, Outer Critics Circle Award,) Steel Pier (Tony Award, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations), Never Gonna Dance (Tony Award nomination, Outer Critics Circle Award), Chicago, 42nd Street, A Chorus Line and Crazy for You (Joseph Jefferson Award). Her Off Broadway credits include And the World Goes ‘Round (Drama Desk Award) and I Do! I Do! (Drama Desk nomination). Ziemba's other credits include Bye Bye Birdie, The Pajama Game, Ziegfeld Follies of 1936 and Allegro (City Center Encores!), 110 in the Shade and The Most Happy Fella (New York City Opera), Much Ado About Nothing (The Shakespeare Theatre Company and Hartford Stage), House and Garden (GeVa Theatre Center), The Threepenny Opera (Williamstown Theatre Festival), The Opposite of Sex (Magic Theatre) and Sylvia (Long Wharf Theatre). Her television and film credits include The Producers, "Scrubs," all three "Law & Order" series, The Kennedy Center Honors and for PBS, "My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies," "Gershwin at 100" and "Stephen Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall."

TICKETS to Brighton Beach Memoirs and Broadway Bound are currently available by subscription only. Single tickets go on sale on Aug. 22 at 10:00 a.m. and can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the box office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park. Performances begin on Sept. 14 and continue through Nov. 7. Ticket prices range from $29 to $85. Performance times: Previews: Brighton Beach Memoirs: Tuesday, Sept. 14 at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 15 at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, Sept 16 at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 21 at 7:00 p.m.; Broadway Bound: Friday, Sept. 17 at 8:00 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 18 at 8:00 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 19 at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 23 at 8:00 p.m.. Regular Performances: Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m., Saturday matinees at 2:00 p.m., Sunday matinees at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday matinees at 1:00 p.m. and Sunday evenings at 7:00 p.m. Discounts are available for full-time students, patrons 29 years of age and under, seniors and groups of 10 or more.

Brighton Beach Memoirs and Broadway Bound can be seen together on the same day on the following dates:

Sunday, September 26 (Brighton 1pm, Broadway 7pm)
Sunday, October 3 (Broadway 1pm, Brighton 7pm)
Saturday, October 9 (Broadway 2pm, Brighton 8pm)
Sunday, October 10 (Brighton 1pm, Broadway 7pm)
Saturday, October 16 (Brighton 2pm, Broadway 8pm)
Sunday, October 17 (Broadway 1pm, Brighton 7pm)
Wednesday, October 20 (Broadway 1pm, Brighton 7pm)
Sunday, October 24 (Brighton 1pm, Broadway 7pm)
Wednesday, October 27 (Broadway 1pm, Brighton 7pm)
Sunday, October 31(Broadway 1pm, Brighton 7pm)
Saturday, November 6 (Broadway 2pm, Brighton 8pm)
Sunday, November 7 (Brighton 1pm, Broadway 7pm)

Associated events taking place during the run of Brighton Beach Memoirs and Broadway Bound include:

POST-SHOW FORUMS: Brighton Beach Memoirs and Broadway Bound
Tuesdays, Sept. 28, Oct. 5, Oct. 26 & Nov. 2 and Wednesdays, Oct. 13 & Nov. 3 FREE
Discuss the play with members of the Brighton Beach Memoirs and Broadway Bound cast and crew at post-show discussions led by the Globe's creative staff after the performances.

INSIGHT SEMINAR: Brighton Beach Memoirs and Broadway Bound Monday, Sept. 20 at 7:00 p.m. FREE
Insight Seminars are a Monday night series of informal presentations of ideas and insights to enhance the theater-going experience. The seminars feature a panel selected from the artistic company of each production and take place in the theater where the production is performed. Reception, 6:30 p.m. Seminar, 7:00 p.m. Admission is free and reservations are not required.

OUT AT THE GLOBE Thursday, Oct. 7 at 6:30 p.m. $20
An evening for gay and lesbian theater lovers and the whole GLBT community, Out at the Globe includes a hosted wine and martini bar, appetizers, door prizes and a pre-show mixer. $20 per person. RSVP at (619) 23-GLOBE. (Tickets to Brighton Beach Memoirs and Broadway Bound are sold separately.)

THANK GLOBE IT'S FRIDAY Fridays, Oct. 1 and 8 at 6:30 p.m. $20
Kick off the weekend with the Globe's Friday pre-show bash. TGIF includes a hosted wine and martini bar, appetizers and dessert, and live music from a local San Diego artist. $20 per person. RSVP at (619) 23-GLOBE. (Tickets to Brighton Beach Memoirs and Broadway Bound are sold separately.)

LOCATION: The Old Globe is located in San Diego's Balboa Park at 1363 Old Globe Way. There are numerous free parking lots available throughout the park. Valet parking is also available ($10). For additional parking information visit www.BalboaPark.org.

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