Adam Gerber to Step in for Jeremy Kushnier in Off-Broadway's SHEAR MADNESS

As previously announced, Jeremy Kushnier, who plays 'Eddie Lawrence' in the New York Premiere of the comedy whodunit SHEAR MADNESS at New World Stages, is moving on to Cirque du Soleil's PARAMOUR.

Now BroadwayWorld can report that Adam Gerber, who created the role of 'Mike Thomas' in the off-Broadway play, will step into Kushnier's part; previews for PARAMOUR begin April 16 on Broadway.

Directed by Bruce Jordan, understudy Ethan Dubin will take over as 'Mike' alongside Jordan Ahnquist, Patrick Noonan, Lynne Wintersteller and Jennifer Ellis in the role of 'Barbara' through this Sunday, April 10th. Kate Middleton, who created the role, returns to the production Monday, April 11th.

SHEAR MADNESS is America's hilarious whodunit where the audience gets to solve the crime. Set in a local hair salon that turns into a wacky murder scene, the play is filled with up-to-the-minute humor and is different every time you see it!

It all began in the summer of 1976 while Bruce Jordan was working at a theatre in upstate New York. He came across a play entitled Scherenschnitt, which was written in 1963 by German writer and psychologist Paul Pörtner. The playwright had written the script to use as a study of how people perceive or misperceive reality. The brief play was set in a unisex hair salon and revolved around an off-stage murder of a concert pianist. Subjects were asked to solve the murder based on their individual perceptions of the events and the six stereotypical characters surrounding the murder. Bruce was intrigued by the concept and suggested that he and Marilyn Abrams stage the play in Lake George. Marilyn read Portner's original script, which she described as 'primitive' and says that if she hadn't known and trusted Bruce, she 'would have run for the hills'! She did trust him and they opened the newly titled Shear Madness in 1978 with nothing more than a basic outline of a script. Bruce and Marilyn performed the lead roles as well as helmed the production. Being on stage each night, Marilyn experienced the "magical" chemistry between the actors and the audience and was acutely aware of the audience's response to Shear Madness. Bruce and Marilyn immediately purchased the world stage, screen and television rights to the play.

SHEAR MADNESS has scenic and lighting design by Will Cotton, costume design by Rodney Harper, and sound designer by Bruce Yauger.

Photo Credit: Carol Rosegg