Boulevard Theatre Closes FOURPLAY, 8/5

The Boulevard Ensemble Studio Theatre, located at 2252 South Kinnickinnic, celebrated 25 years of staging dynamic, eclectic theatre when its 2010-2011 season opensed on July 28th with FOURPLAY: 4 Comedies Of Seduction.

FOURPLAY will be the opening production in the Ensemble's stellar line-up of scripts which includes EVan Smith's wholly entertaining comedy THE SAVANNAH DISPUTATION, Gina Gionfriddo's romantic romp Becky Shaw, and Luigi Pirandello's puzzler RIGHT YOU ARE! (IF YOU THINK YOU ARE!). Both SAVANNAH DISPUTATION and Becky Shaw are Milwaukee premieres.

In FOURPLAY, the Boulevard (Milwaukee's pioneer neighborhood theatre) has hand-picked four exquisitely crafted comedies to open its "Silver Anniversary Season," and these comic cameos include celebrated East Coast playwright John Patrick Shanley's early, charming tribute to young love entitled THE RED COAT as well as Elaine Jarvik's reflection on matrimonial bliss DEAD RIGHT.

Both THE RED COAT (featuring Hugh Blewett, Keigan Vannoy) and DEAD RIGHT (featuring Barbara Weber and Mark Ninneman) are Milwaukee premieres and both will showcase the directing debut of Milwaukee actor Paul Madden. Madden won acclaim for his acting work in previous Boulevard productions (STATIONS OF THE CROSS, THE MARRIAGE OF BETTE & BOO, ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL).

FOURPLAY's program of plays includes two scripts which have been produced previously in Milwaukee and which have proven themselves Milwaukee audience favorites: David Ives' frenetic frolic of public "pick-up" SURE THING and Harold Pinter's deviously clever marital indictment THE LOVER. SURE THING will be enacted by two Milwaukee favorites (Brooke Wegner, Ken Dillon) while THE LOVER presents an equally impressive two-handed cast (Ericka Wade, Jason Wills). Local actor/writer Tom Dillon makes his directing debut with SURE THING and Boulevard's Artistic Director Mark Bucher tackles THE LOVER.

Dillon has appeared countless times with the Boulevard (AS BEES IN HONEY DROWN, THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT, MRS. FARNSWORTH, THE DAYS OF WINE & ROSES) as well as many other theatres (Windfall, Dramatists Theatre, etc.) and is a recognized face amongst Milwaukee audiences.

Tickets are $20 and all performances will be at the Boulevard's charming studio space at 2252 South Kinnickinnic. Call the 24-hour ticket line @ 414. 744. 5757. Please visit our website (always under construction) at: www.boulevardtheatre.com for additional information.

The rest of Boulevard Theatre's 25th Anniversary Season will be as follows:

EVan Smith's wholly entertaining comedy THE SAVANNAH DISPUTATION:

The author of REMEDIAL ENGLISH writes of two Southern sisters beset by a Baptist beautician intent on saving their souls, if not their hair color. One sister craftily convenes a dinner party with both the "Holy Roller" stylist and their own tippling parish priest. A divinely redemptive comedy. November 24, 2010-January 9, 1011 (7 weeks).

Gina Gionfriddo's cracked comic valentine Becky Shaw:
A hard-edged comedy with a soft-hearted center. A young couple sets up two friends on a blind date. This "good intention" paves the way for a "hellish" uproar for their marriage and rocks the lives of both couples. A mother from Hades completes the comic quintet. With Anne Miller, Joe Fransee and Christine Horgen. February 9-March 13, 2011 (5 weeks).

Luigi Pirandello's RIGHT YOU ARE! (IF YOU THINK YOU ARE!):
A prickly puzzle about neighbors mystified, perplexed and finally driven to distraction by the arrival of a new family into their sedate village. The author of SIX CHARACTERS IN SEARCH OF AN AUTHOR tantalizes audiences with the question of "whose ‘truth' can be believed?" A Rubik's Cube of comedy! April 20-May 22, 2011 (5 weeks).