OSTC Opens Neil Simon's FOOLS, 1/23

Ocean State Theatre Company (OSTC), the not-for-profit which brought new life to the historic Theatre By The Sea for the past five years, is proud to announce the Grand Opening of their new state-of-the-Art Theatre located at 1245 Jefferson Boulevard in Warwick. The Inaugural Season begins with Neil Simon's highly comic play, Fools, which opens in previews on Wednesday, January 23.

Fools tells the ridiculous story of Leon Tolchinsky, a young school teacher, who quickly falls madly in love and just as quickly realizes his new love, and the entire town, have been literally cursed with chronic stupidity. He finds out he has just 24 hours to break the curse and save his love forever. If you need a laugh, Neil Simon = funny and funny = Fools. Fools is suitable for all audiences.

Directed by Producing Artistic Director Amiee Turner, the cast includes New York performers Matthew Rickard, who returns to Rhode Island after appearing in OSTC's production of How to Succeed... this past summer and Bruce Warren, who audiences will remember as Franz Liebkind in OSTC's critically acclaimed production of The Producers (2008), as Leon the schoolteacher and his nemesis, Count Gregor. Alyssa Gorgone of Smithfield, who was recently seen in A Christmas Carol at Trinity Rep, makes her OSTC debut as Leon's love interest, Sophia, with Attleboro resident and OSTC favorite Stacey Geer (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Hairspray) as her mother, Lenya, and stage and screen performer, Alexander Cook as her father, Dr. Zubritsky. Mark S. Cartier, who appeared in the Boston company of Shear Madness for twenty years, portrays the role of Mishkin. Other local performers include Mike Daniels of North Providence, Brad Kirton of Coventry, Valerie R. Myette of North Kingstown, and Patrick Mulvihill of Rumford in the roles of Snetsky, Slovitch, Yenchna and the Magistrate.

Fools will be presented at Ocean State Theatre from January 23 - February 10. Previews are scheduled for Wednesday, January 23 at 7:30 pm and Thursday, January 24 at 2:00 and 7:30 pm. All other performances will be held Wednesday (except February 6) through Saturday evenings at 7:30 pm, with matinees on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 pm. The theatre is located at 1245 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick, RI. Tickets are $30 for preview performances and $30-$47 for all other performances. Discount rates for groups of 20 or more are available by calling (401) 921-1777 x112. $20 "Rush" tickets are available on a limited basis one hour prior to curtain on the day of the performance. Tickets are on sale at the box office Tuesday through Friday from 12 noon - 6:00 pm, Saturdays from 12 noon - 4:00 pm, and up until curtain on performance days. Tickets are also available online 24 hours a day at www.OceanStateTheatre.org and via telephone during normal box office hours by calling (401) 921-6800.