BLEACHER BUMS Opens Season at Summer Place Theatre

Summer Place Theatre, Naperville's community theatre since 1966, is proud to open its 52nd season with Bleacher Bums, directed by Craig Fisher. It's root, root, root for the home team, and die-hard Chicago Cubs fans are making wagers. Unfortunately, baseball is about all they have in common. Things may get hilarious.

Bleacher Bums is a comedy conceived by Chicagoan and TV star Joe Mantegna and developed by members of the Organic Theatre Company in the late 1970s. The story follows several regular Cubs fans who know each other from countless other games in the past. As the beer starts to flow and the summer heat takes its toll, the fans begin to grumble, argue, and make bets on the "lovable losers" out on the field.

If emotions run high, don't worry: we'll take a break by singing along with a local celebrity during the seventh inning stretch!

The cast of Bleacher Bums includes Elizabeth Thompson (Elmhurst) as Melody, Dan Byrne-Szafoni (Oak Lawn) as Greg, Gary Tuber (Hoffman Estates) as Zig, Tom Ochocinski (Plainfield) as Decker, Ben Slabik II as Richie, Mike Duffy (Westmont) as Marvin, Rick March (Highland Park) as the Cheerleader, Kelli Montgomery (Ottawa) as Rose, Grace Assicurato (Clarendon Hills) as Kid 1, Grant Kates (Naperville) as Kid 2, and Don Gingold (Naperville) as the Wrigley Field Announcer.

The production team includes Sabrina Zeidler (scenic design), Jeff Sand (sound design), Alaina Pizzoferrato (lighting design), Jensine Waller (technical director), and Grace Chariya (stage manager)

All summer shows performed in the Naperville Central High School Auditorium, 440 W. Aurora Ave., Naperville, IL. When the kids move out, we move in!

ONLY USE THE ONE AUDITORIUM DOOR, DOOR 24, on the far west side of the campus. Plenty of free parking. Look for the bright yellow signs.

For information or tickets, please contact the box office at (630) 355-7969, email boxoffice@summerplacetheatre.org, or visit our website at www.summerplacetheatre.org