Clear Space Theatre Company Begins Summer Season

The Clear Space Theatre Company has begun performances for their summer season, featuring THE FULL MONTY, OLIVER! and SORDID LIVES.

Adapted from the 1997 British film, the musical version of THE FULL MONTY follows six unemployed steelworkers in Buffalo, NY as they create a strip act after seeing their wives' enthusiasm for a touring company of Chippendale dancers. Their show will be better than the Chippendale dancers as they'll go "the full monty" and strip all the way! The show features the talents of Steven Dow, Peyton Lynch, Peter Kane, Claudius Bowden, Peter Pesquera, Ryan Hagan, Erin Williams, Donna deKuyper and Jann Ellis. Directed by David Button, choreography by Shondelle Graulich and Musical Direction by Melanie Bradley, the show opened the summer season Thursday, June 26 with a gala reception.

Next up is the family favorite, OLIVER! directed by Artistic Director, Doug Yetter with Musical Director Julie Fair and Choreographer Christa Pardocci. Based on the Charles Dickens' classic, Oliver Twist, this timeless musical follows young Oliver on his journey from orphanage to the seedy underground of London to finding his family. The production stars Wade Stout as Oliver, Dick Pack as Fagin, Abby Chesney as Nancy, Ed Teti as Mr. Bumble, Janice Jester as Widow Corney and Matt Lewis as the Artful Dodger.

The dark comedy and cult hit, SORDID LIVES, rounds out the season starting Thursday, July 3 and offers a heaping helping of Southern-fried comic melodrama including infidelity, Country & Western music and Airstream trailers. The show features Christopher Peterson as "Brother Boy" - a man the family has had institutionalized for years because he thinks he is Tammy Wynette! Also featured in the show are Valorie Jarrell, Liz Roe, Dick Pack, Cheryl Graves, David Warick, Richard Huffman, Ryan Hagan, Mary O'Neill, Nancy Curry and Amy Warick.

"This is turning out to be a very exciting season for Clear Space," stated Artistic Director and co-founder, Doug Yetter. "We've broken attendance records for every show we've produced this year and expect the summer season to continue the trend. THE FULL MONTY and SORDID LIVES are making area premieres, and OLIVER has been blessed with a brand-new production thanks to our talented creative team! We put all three shows together in 15 days - with rehearsals running from 9a.m. to 8:30p.m.! With the rotation of shows, it's possible to see all three in one week, or on subsequent weekends. All three shows have fantastic casts, and I have every reason to believe we're continuing a "perfect" season."

In addition to the three main-stage productions, The Rest of the Best of Christopher Peterson's EYECONS opened July 5 and plays every Saturday and Sunday evening through Labor Day.

Specific dates, times and reservations for all shows, including the opening night gala and summer repertory theatre, are available through the box office, 302.227.2270 or online at www.ClearSpaceTheatre.org under the heading "Purchase Tickets."