Charles Leggett Leads Village Theatre's The Odd Couple

Village Theatre announced today casting for its upcoming production of Neil Simon's The Odd Couple, which opens January 18 in Issaquah. The actors and artistic production team are wholly Seattle artists; most notably Charles Leggett as the classic character, the ever-tousled Oscar Madison.

A recipient and three-time nominee of a Theatre Puget Sound Gregory Award, as well as a multi-year recipient of the Seattle Times Footlight Award, Charles Leggett returns to Village Theatre after twenty-two years. He was last seen on the Mainstage, which was then at First Stage Theatre, in the 1989 production of The Taming of the Shrew. Since then, he has gone on to grace an abundance of Northwest stages including Seattle Repertory Theatre, ACT, Seattle Shakespeare Company, The 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle Children's Theatre, Book-It, Intiman, and others. 

Making his Village Theatre debut opposite Leggett, is Chris Ensweiler as the fragile and uptight, Felix Unger. Ensweiler was most recently seen at Seattle Shakespeare Company as Puck and Philostrate in A Midsummer Night's Dream this past fall; he has frequented the Seattle Shakespeare stage in productions of The Two Gentlemen of Verona and Twelfth Night with additional credits at Seattle Children's Theatre. Of his work at Village Theatre he commented, "I have always enjoyed the work of Neil Simon. Much like Shakespeare, Simon infuses the emotions and comic timing into his writing; The Odd Couple is a fantastically crafted map of comedy. When the offer was made to play Felix, it was an easy decision to work with Jeff Steitzer and a fantastic cast at Village Theatre."

Several Village Theatre favorites return, bulking up this cast of comically savvy individuals. Erin Polani Jensen (Jesus Christ Superstar, Take Me America) as poker buddy Murray; John X. Deveney (The Full Monty) as the mild-mannered Vinnie; Matt Wolfe (42nd Street, Chasing Nicolette) as the sarcastic and snide, Speed. 

THE ODD COUPLE is directed by Jeff Steitzer, who returns to the organization for the first time since 2007. Steitzer, also an actor who recently understudied Tony Award-winning actor Brian Dennehy in Broadway's Inherit the Wind, has directed over 150 productions across the country including On Golden Pond, Driving Miss Daisy, and Steel Magnolias at Village Theatre. In addition to his stage work, he is a prolific voice-over artist, most notably for Xbox's Halo games.

Full Cast List: John X. Deveney, Chris Ensweiler, Caitlin Frances, Eric Polani Jensen, Charles Leggett, Betsy Schwartz, Roger Welch, Matt Wolfe. http://bit.ly/vNehut

Production Team: THE ODD COUPLE is directed by Jeff Steitzer (Barefoot in the Park, 2007); scenic design by Martin Christoffel (Sleuth, 2011); lighting design by Tom Sturge (Iron Curtain, 2011; The Full Monty, 2010); sound design by Brent Warwick (Annie Get Your Gun, 2011); costume design by Christine Tschirgi (past credits include The 5th Avenue, Cornish Dance Theater, Strawberry Theatre Workshop).

What:
The Odd Couple
By Neil Simon

One of Neil Simon's most recognizable and timeless comedies, The Odd Couple has been entertaining audiences for nearly 50 years. Meet Oscar Madison, a divorced yet carefree slob, whose greatest concern in life is making his alimony payments on time...give or take a few months. But Oscar's life is about to turn upside-down with the arrival of his longtime friend and new roomie, Felix Ungar, an uptight neat-freak, whose wife has just left him. Coming together as a last resort, these two are out about to enter into a hilarious battle of wills that will lead to sheer mayhem for them…and laugh-out-loud comedy for us!

Where:
In Issaquah:
Francis J. Gaudette Theatre
303 Front Street North, Issaquah
In Everett:
Everett Performing Arts Center
2710 Wetmore Avenue, Everett

When:
Issaquah Dates: January 18 – February 26, 2012 – ON SALE NOW
Everett Dates: March 2 – 25, 2012 – ON SALE JANUARY 25
Details: http://bit.ly/rNzOcY

Tickets:
Issaquah
$22-$62, Box Office (425) 392-2202
Everett
$20-$56, Box Office (425) 257-8600
Student & Military Rush: ½ price 30 minutes prior to curtain for any available seat. Group discounts available for groups of 10 or more.
villagetheatre.org

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