New Jewish Theater Presents SIRENS 2/16-3/6

Facebook, Scrabulous, handheld solitaire games, the Greek Isles, Greek myths... what do all of these things have in common? They all figure prominently in New Jewish Theatre's upcoming production of Sirens by Deborah Zoe Laufer, where a 25th Anniversary trip to the Greek Isles becomes a catalyst for an amusing series of events in this quirky romantic comedy. The biggest hit from last year's Humana Festival of New American Plays, Laufer's play is a quirky empty-nest romantic comedy about a husband and wife and the hit love song he wrote for her more than 25 years ago.

When musician Sam met Rose, his future wife, he wrote a song for her which became an instant hit and part of the repertoire of all the big name singers and groups - even Muzak. Rose fell in love with Sam, they married and lived off the song's proceeds for the next 25 years. But 25 years later both their relationship and Sam's creative juices have stalled. Sam hasn't written a hit since, and his creative stagnation and memories of passionate youth drive him to use Facebook Scrabble to seek a new muse to reawaken his senses and the passions of 25 years ago. Rose, upset with Sam's search for his muse, thinks that a 25th Anniversary trip to the Greek Isles will reignite their passion.

Laufer asks "when the past is longer than the future and when ardor turns to comfort, how can you find a way to be happy with what you have? Eternity sounds really great in principle, but it might be just interminable." In Sirens, Laufer dares us to remember our past while finding a way to embrace the future-and to live in the present.

Tom Martin directs a cast of four, Kari Ely*, Bobby Miller*, Leah Berry* and John Kinney.

The production runs for three weeks from February 16 - March 6 with performances on Wednesdays, Thursdays at 7:30 PM, Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, with an additional performance on Sunday, February 27 at 7:30. Tickets are $34-38 and can be purchased through the New Jewish Theatre box office at 314-442-3283 or online at www.newjewishtheatre.org.