BROOKLYN BAGATELLE Premieres at First Run Theatre Tonight, 6/22

First Run Theatre, a professional company dedicated to presenting world première productions of unpublished plays by local-area playwrights, opens its tenth season with "Brooklyn Bagatelle," a two-act "Dramedy" by Neville Mur. It will be directed by Jim Meady and produced by Brad Slavik and Jim Meady. Performance dates are tonight, June 22 and June 23, 29 and 30 (8 PM curtain); and June 24 and July 1 (2 PM curtain).

"Brooklyn Bagatelle" takes place in Brooklyn, New York, in May 1948 – a simpler time when there were no computers (desk tops laptops, tablets, etc) and other fancy electronic gadgets... like cell phones, Bluetooths, I Phones, Nintendo wii PlayStation or even pagers. Television was in its infancy and only available to families with a lot of available cash. It is the age-old story of intergenerational conflicts and their effect on the family.

Jacob and Sarah Marr own and run a "Mom and Pop" store – think convenience store, although smaller, with a greater variety of merchandise, and without any gasoline pumps – that was founded by Jacob's father, a Russian immigrant. Jacob has worked in the store since he was very young and hopes to pass it on to one or more of his three sons. Unfortunately, the sons – even the youngest – all have different ideas about their future. What they are, and how (if at all) they are resolved, makes for an enjoyable "Dramedy."

Cliff Mirabella and Anita Lippman appear as Jacob and Sarah. Michael J. Beal plays their oldest son, Ira, a veteran of the Merchant Marines, who currently works in the store with his father. Tim Drier plays the second son, Ronnie, a veteran of the U. S. Navy, who is currently studying Law at Harvard University. Rounding out the family is Nathan, played by Jared Goudsmit, who is preparing for his Bar Mitzvah, and who has ideas of his own about his future.

Advanced tickets may be purchased via PayPal at http://www.firstruntheatre.com/paypal.shtml. If you prefer not to pay in advance, reservations can be made by calling 314-352-5114 and leaving your name, your phone number, performance date(s), and number(s) of tickets requested by category (adult, senior, student, and group). Phone reservations are not guaranteed until paid for at the door. Payment at the door can be either cash or check – no debit or credit cards are accepted.

Ticket prices are: At the door without a reservation - $15 for Adults and $12 for Seniors and Students; PayPal or phone reservation - $12 for Adults and $10 for Seniors and Students. Group rates are available for groups of 10 or more. Reservations must be made ahead under the name of the group, and for the same performance. The Group rates are: $10 for Adults and $8 for Seniors and Students.

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