The Boulevard Ensemble Studio Theatre's 24th Season Opens With AS BEES IN HONEY DROWN, Runs 7/29-8/29

The Boulevard Ensemble Studio Theatre, 2252 South Kinnickinnic, opens its 24th season with the Milwaukee premiere of New York playwright Douglas Carter Beane's skewering comedy of success As Bees in Honey Drown (July 29-August 29, 2009).

Playwright Douglas Carter Beane has many successful writing credits including plays (The Little Dog Laughed, Music from a Sparkling Planet, Xanadu, The Country Club) and screenplays (To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar.).

Beane's scathing satire of show business, The Little Dog Laughed, wowed Broadway when it opened in 2006, winning several awards for the play and performers, including the 2007 Tony Awards in "Best Play" as well as "Best Actress in a play" categories.

But Beane first enjoyed major success and critical notice (1998 Drama Desk nominee for "Outstanding New Play") with As Bees in Honey Drown. This sassy tale of a mysterious young widow ("Alexa Vere de Vere" played by Boulevard's wonderfully alluring actress Ericka Wade) seducing an innocent writer ("Evan Wyler" played by the Ensemble's incandescent David Geisler) sharply dissects modern issues of fame and celebrity with wit and humanity.

This fast-paced romp also features Milwaukee actors Marion Araujo, Melissa Keith, Tom Mertz-Dillon, Anthony O'Malley, and Kate Sherry. The production is directed by Boulevard Artistic Director Mark Bucher, stage-managed by Norman Gaulin and runs Wednesday, July 29th through Saturday, August 29th, 2009. The run of five weeks includes a new time for Sunday matinees (4:30 pm) and a "skeleton schedule" during the hectic waning days of Milwaukee's summer (last four weeks are two-show weekends, only).

Evan Wyler, a New York writer savoring the success of his debut novel, captures the attention of Alexa Vere de Vere, a mysterious widow who knows "anyone who is anyone" in society and who hires Evan to fashion a "fabulous" screenplay from her stories, travels and marriages.

Evan, who is gay, falls in love with this wild compilation of Auntie Mame, Judy Garland, and both Audrey and Katherine Hepburn. But he discovers that Alexa is both the Lady and the TigeR. Beane's comedy incisively skewers "celebrity" and suggests that our modern society creates "human soundbites" who are more "bite" than "human." A Milwaukee premiere!

Tickets are $20 and reservations may be made by calling the Ensemble's 24-hour voicemail at 414. 744.5757. The complete performance schedule and additional information may be obtained by visiting www.boulevardtheatre.com.

Photo taken from http://media.decider.com/assets/images/venues/venue/10419/BLVDplayhouse_EXT01_jpg_595x325_crop_upscale_q85.jpg?format=auto&width=1400.

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