Edward Fernandez Is Sheridan Whiteside In EPAC's THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER

A classic comedy is coming to Ephrata Performing Arts Center, September 5-14, 2019, THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. The production will star EPAC Artistic Director Edward Fernandez in the role of Sheridan Whiteside, respectively.

It's the Middle Class versus the Elites in Kaufman and Hart's uproarious comedy THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER. An instant hit when it opened on Broadway in 1939, the play has gone on to be one of the most performed American comedies. A popular film version was released in 1942 starring Bette Davis. THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER, as it is so aptly named, is a comedy play about a dinner guest who long overstays his welcome. Although he originally was forced into bed-rest due to injury, he soon makes himself at home and begins meddling in his hosts' personal lives. Christmastime is a time for giving freely, and Mr. Sheridan Whiteside is freely giving his opinion and insults to the Stanley family, who are stuck with him.

"I love Sheridan Whiteside," says Fernandez. "I'm going to play Sheridan Whiteside, did it before, and was a little too young for it, and now I'm the right age. I'm very excited to get back in the wheelchair, and there's a great cast lined up for it, too! It's going to be lots of fun."

Fernandez played Edna Turnblad in both Fulton Theatre and EPAC's productions of HAIRSPRAY. Previous EPAC acting credits: Lear in KING LEAR (2017 BroadwayWorld Award), Vanya in VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE, Albin/Zaza in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, Tevye in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, George in WHO'S AFRAID OF Virginia Woolf?, and Max Bialystock in THE PRODUCERS.

As a director, Fernandez's work at EPAC includes SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET, HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, FUN HOME, THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN, WEST SIDE STORY, NEXT TO NORMAL, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, ASSASSINS, AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, and this year's recent production of RAGTIME.

THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER runs September 5-14, 2019, at Ephrata Performing Arts Center. For tickets and more information, visit www.ephrataperformingartscenter.com or call EPAC's box office at (717) 733-7966 x 1.