The Human Race Theatre Presents Neil Simon's Semi-Autobiographical Comedy BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS

This April, The Human Race Theatre Company (HRTC) is going back in time with Neil Simon's Brighton Beach Memoirs, the first of Neil Simon's semi-autobiographical trilogy. He has holes in his shoes and liver on the dinner table, but all teenage Eugene Jerome can think of is girls, baseball and writing-in that order.

There's hardly a moment's peace in a house filled with his domineering mother, over-worked father, and worldly older brother, not to mention his widowed aunt and her two maturing daughters. Simon's comedy about growing up in a crowded, lower middle class home in 1937 Brooklyn is a touching coming-of-age classic that proves no matter how crazy life gets, family can make it crazier.

"Brighton Beach Memoirs reveals Neil Simon as his wittiest and most poignant self. The first play of the Eugene Trilogy, and semi-autobiographical, we meet Eugene at 15, taking us through his memoirs as he writes about a blended family, living on top of each other in a little-bit-too-small house: each individual yearning for independence, yet fiercely committed to keeping the family strong. Oh so funny and relevant, I invite you into the Jerome home for a look at love, growing pains, and blood being thicker than water!" - Marya Spring Cordes, director.

Marya Spring Cordes (HRTC's Becky's New Car and Managing Maxine), returns to The Race to direct Brighton Beach Memoirs. Cordes serves as Head of Acting in Wright State University's Department of Theatre, Dance, and Motion Pictures and is a proud Resident Artist of The Human Race Theatre Company.

American playwright and screenwriter Neil Simon is widely regarded as one of the most successful, prolific and performed playwrights in the world. In addition to Lost in Yonkers, which won a Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize, his plays and musicals include Come Blow Your Horn, Little Me, Barefoot in the Park, The Odd Couple, Sweet Charity, The Star-Spangled Girl, Plaza Suite, and many more.

The preview performance of Brighton Beach Memoirs is Thursday, April 5. Opening night is Friday, April 6.

CAST AND DESIGN TEAM

The cast of seven includes two Human Race veterans and several faces new to local audiences.

Richard Buchanan (Shakespeare in Love at Baltimore Center Stage and Cincinnati Playhouse) plays Eugene's older brother, Stanley, in his debut performance at The Human Race Theatre. Eric Deiboldt (Peter Pan at Northern Stage, West Side Story, All Shook Up, Lend Me a Tenor) is excited to be making his debut at The Human Race Theatre Company as Eugene. Lisa Ann Goldsmith (HRTC's Macbeth, Mame and Torch Song Trilogy, World Premiere of Windfall, directed by Seinfeld's Jason Alexander, Sundance nominee for The Lifeguard, The Next Three Days, and many other titles) is back at HRTC playing Eugene's mother, Kate. Oakwood High School student Julie Murphy (Muse Machine's Mary Poppins, We Could Be Heroes, Hairspray, and Hello, Dolly!) plays his younger cousin, Laurie. Sonia Perez (HRTC's The Full Monty, The Beck Center's City of Angels, Musicals Tonight! Hazel Flagg and many more) plays Eugene's aunt, Blanche. Rory Sheridan (The Pillowman at Falcon Theatre, Neverwhere at Know Theatre of Cincinnati, and Doubt at Cincinnati Landmark Productions) plays his father, Jack. Wright State University student Katie Sinicki (You Can't Take It with You, Jane the Plain, The Children's Hour, and King Lear) makes her HRTC debut as Eugene's older cousin, Nora.

Dan Gray (scenic designer) rejoins HRTC for Brighton Beach Memoirs. Other HRTC credits include: Sweeney Todd, Taking Shakespeare, and more. Dave Arevalo (costume designer) is making his Human Race design premiere. Resident Artists John Rensel (lighting designer) and Jay Brunner (sound designer) round out the design team. Jacquelyn Duncan, who has worked as Production Assistant for HRTC since 2016, moves up to the position of production stage manager.

Biographies on the cast and creative team can be found on The Human Race Theatre Company's website.

The Human Race Theatre Company's production of Brighton Beach Memoirs is sponsored by The Richard A. and Mary T. Whitney Fund for the Arts, Marion's Piazza, Two Friends, Jack and Maryann Bernstein, Larry S. Glickler - Glickler Funeral Home, Marni Flagel, John and Barbara Rion, and Patti Giering.

Photos courtesy of Immobulus Photography

Pictured: Richard Buchanan, Eric Deiboldt and Rory Sheridan

Performance and special event information

Tickets for the preview performance of Brighton Beach Memoirs on April 5 start at $35 for adults, $32 for seniors and $17.50 for students. For all performances April 5 - 22, single ticket prices start at $40 for adults, $37 for seniors and $20 for students. Prices vary depending on the day of the week and seating location. Group discounts are available for parties of 10 or more. The Human Race is offering a pair of discount ticket opportunities during the run of the show. A limited number of $12 and $25 side-area seats are available in advance for all performances. The Sunday, April 8 7:00 p.m. performance is "Sawbuck Sunday," when any available seat can be purchased in person for just $10 at the Loft Theatre box office two hours prior to the show. Discounts are subject to availability and some restrictions apply.

All performances are at the Metropolitan Art Center's Loft Theatre, located at 126 North Main Street in downtown Dayton, Ohio. Show times for Brighton Beach Memoirs are 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Performances on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings begin at 7:00 p.m., and at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday matinees.

Tickets and performance information for Brighton Beach Memoirs are available at www.humanracetheatre.org or by calling Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630, and at the Schuster Center box office.

 

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