My Shows
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

THE ARTIFICIAL JUNGLE Opens Tonight at Town Players

By:

Summer may be ending, but Town Players keeps the mood light and fun with its production THE ARTIFICIAL JUNGLE by Charles Ludlam, opening tonight, September 5.

A zany, comedic spoof of film noir classics such as "The Postman Always Rings Twice" and "Double Indemnity," THE ARTIFICIAL JUNGLE focuses on bored, beautiful housewife Roxanne Nurdiger (Olivia Carr, Southbury), who is tired of tending to non-talking parrots and piranhas in the pet shop she runs with her greedy husband Chester (Timothy Huebenthal, Southbury). Enter the dubious Zachary Slade (Brian DeToma, Danbury), who upon responding to the "help wanted" sign in the window, manages to insinuate himself into the family and into Roxanne's heart. The two of them decide to bump off Chester and cash in on the insurance. Unfortunately for them, Chester proves difficult to dispose of, and with his cop pal Frankie Spinelli (Ron Malyszka, Bridgewater) constantly nosing around and Mother Nurdiger's (Laurel Lettieri, Norwalk) antics, things don't go quite the way they planned.

According to The New York Times, "The more [Chester] battles piranhas and human villains to survive, the more the audience is likely to die laughing."

Directed by Gene Golaszewski of Brookfield, THE ARTIFICIAL JUNGLE also features the talents of Rosemary Howard of Millvale. The production crew includes producers Lynn Alexander of Southbury and Tracy Nashel of Newtown, stage manager Georgie Kobylanski of Bethel, set builder Timothy Huebenthal, and light and sound designer Nick Kaye of Bethel.

THE ARTIFICIAL JUNGLE runs September 5 - 27. Curtain times are 8 PM Fridays and Saturdays, with 2 PM matinees on September 14 & 21. There will be a champagne reception after the show on opening night as Town Players helps to kick off the 2014 Newtown Arts Festival.

Tickets are $20; $15 for matinee performances.

Reservations may be made by calling the box office at 203-270-9144 or by sending an email to reservations@newtownplayers.org. For further information, visit www.newtownplayers.org or email info@newtownplayers.org.

Theater Fans' Choice Awards
2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats
Best Off-Broadway Play - Top 3
1. A Christmas Carol (Thorne Adaptation) - PAC NYC
7.4% of votes
2. Prince F****t - Playwrights Horizons
6.2% of votes
3. Kenrex - Lucille Lortel Theatre
4.6% of votes

Need more Connecticut Theatre News in your life?
Sign up for all the news on the Spring season, discounts & more...


Videos


Brighton Beach Memoirs in Connecticut Brighton Beach Memoirs
The Kate (6/11-6/14)
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM in Connecticut A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
CURTAIN CALL'S SHAKESPEARE ON THE GREEN (7/09-7/19)
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying in Connecticut How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
The Press Box Theater (5/15-5/24)
Guys & Dolls in Connecticut Guys & Dolls
Kweskin Theatre (6/05-6/27)
Charlie & The Chocolate Factory in Connecticut Charlie & The Chocolate Factory
Kweskin Theatre (8/06-8/15)
SECONDS OUT: A Tribute to the Music of GENESIS in Connecticut SECONDS OUT: A Tribute to the Music of GENESIS
Little Theater of Manchester at Cheney Hall (5/22-5/22)
Crazy For You in Connecticut Crazy For You
Goodspeed Opera House (6/19-8/09)
Oddfellows Playhouse Teen Repertory Company presents the world premiere of Mel Chomsky’s History of the World in Connecticut Oddfellows Playhouse Teen Repertory Company presents the world premiere of Mel Chomsky’s History of the World
Oddfellows Playhouse (5/14-5/23)
A Year With Frog and Toad in Connecticut A Year With Frog and Toad
Playhouse on Park (6/03-6/03)
Daniel Tosh in Connecticut Daniel Tosh
Toyota Oakdale Theatre (6/12-6/12)