MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL National Tour Comes To Broadhollow Theatre/Bayway Arts

Inspired by a hot flash and a bottle of wine, Menopause The Musical® will come to East Islip's Broadhollow Theatre at BayWay Arts Center (265 East Main Street, East Islip, NY 11730) on Friday April 9th (8PM). Presented by GFour Productions, Menopause The Musical® continues its National Tour in East Islip, for a five week engagement at the centrally located East Islip theatre. The production will play through May 16th.

Written by Jeanie Linders, Menopause The Musical® has become an international phenomenon having been seen by nearly 11 million people all over the world (13 countries and 250 cities!) since it debuted in a 76-seat perfume-shop-turned-theatre in Orlando, Florida in 2001.

Billed as "The Hilarious Celebration of Women and The Change®," the original, off-Broadway musical begins with four women, "Professional Woman," "Soap Star," "Iowa Housewife" and "Earth Mother," at a Bloomingdale's lingerie sale with nothing in common but a black lace bra - and hot flashes, night sweats, memory loss, chocolate binges, not enough sex, too much sex and day-to-day challenges.

The cast will feature Long Island's favorite actress (from Greenlawn) Lydia Gladstone (Iowa Housewife) along with Illeana Kirven (Professional Woman), Dee Etta Rowe (Earth Mother) and Shorey Walker (Soap Star).

They share their ups and downs through a collection of 25 re-lyricized baby boomer songs from the 60's, 70's and 80s. Disco hit "Stayin' Alive" becomes "Stayin' Awake," Motown favorite "My Guy" is transformed into "My Thighs," "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" switches to "In the Guest Room or on the Sofa, My Husband Sleeps at Night," and "Puff The Magic Dragon" becomes the anthem to exercise, "Puff, My God I'm Draggin'."

"It may not be Shakespeare, but our focus is different. We want to bring women together and empower them. This is an event - a happening," says Kathi Glist, one of the show's producers. "It resonates with just about any woman over 40, but it is enjoyed by all. And the younger women laugh just as hard," she adds. "It's a party every night!"

"The show has become a point of relating, a celebration of a life passage that launches women into a new exciting phase of their lives," says Linders. "Most women know intuitively what every other woman is facing with the onset of the menopause. They talk about it with their friends and, on occasion with their spouses. But, when they are in a theatre with hundreds of women, and they're all shouting ‘That's Me!' then they know what they are experiencing is normal. They call it a sisterhood!"

Show times for Menopause The Musical® at Broadhollow Theatre/BayWay Arts Center (265 East Main Street) are Tuesdays through Fridays at 8PM; Saturdays at 2PM & 7PM; Sundays at 2PM. Running time is 90 minutes without intermission. All tickets are $45. Purchase tickets online at: www.broadhollow.org or by calling: 631-870-1685.

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