Photo Coverage: 'THE NEIL SIMON PLAYS' Cast Meets The Press
By: Peter James Zielinski Aug. 25, 2009
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The first Broadway revivals of BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS and BROADWAY BOUND, two of Simon's beloved semi-autobiographical "Eugene Jerome" plays will be directed by David Cromer (Our Town) and will play the beautifully restored Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41st Street). Rehearsals began in New York on Monday, August 24th and the cast and creative team took a moment to meet and greet the press. BroadwayWorld.com's cameras were there to mingle with the talented theatrical team!
BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS begins previews on Friday, October 2 and opens on Sunday, October 25. BROADWAY BOUND begins previews on Wednesday, November 18 and opens Thursday, December 10. Starting on November 18, the two plays will be performed in repertory on a varied schedule.
Specially priced preview tickets for $50-$35 (not including Saturday evening performances) are available for both plays if ordered by September 6. Regular priced tickets are $100-$65. Tickets are available at www.Ticketmaster.com.
BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS and BROADWAY BOUND were two of the longest running Broadway plays of the 1980s. The works ushered in a new era of appreciation for Neil Simon, with praise for the playwright's hilarious and poignant account of his adolescence, early career and family life in New York in the 1930s and 1940s.
BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS originally opened on March 27, 1983 at the Alvin Theatre and played for 1,299 performances. (During the run of BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS, the Alvin Theatre was renamed The Neil Simon Theatre). BROADWAY BOUND opened on December 4, 1986 at the Broadhurst Theatre, where it played for 756 performances.
BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS stars Laurie Metcalf (Kate Jerome) and Dennis Boutsikaris (Jack Jerome) with Santino Fontana (Stanley Jerome), Jessica Hecht (Blanche), Gracie Bea Lawrence (Laurie), Noah Robbins (Eugene Jerome) and Alexandra Socha (Nora).
BROADWAY BOUND stars Laurie Metcalf (Kate Jerome) and Dennis Boutsikaris (Jack Jerome) with Santino Fontana (Stanley Jerome), Jessica Hecht (Blanche), Josh Grisetti (Eugene Jerome) and Allan Miller (Ben).
BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS centers on young Jewish teen Eugene Morris Jerome and his extended family living in a crowded home in the Brighton Beach section of Brooklyn in 1937: his overworked father, Jack; overbearing mother, Kate; his older brother Stanley; Kate's widowed sister Blanche and her daughters, Nora and Laurie. As Eugene spends his time daydreaming about a baseball career, he must also cope with his family's troubles, his awkward discovery of the opposite sex and his developing identity as a writer.
In BROADWAY BOUND, it's the late 1940s and Eugene and Stanley have started their careers as professional comedy writers. But when the brothers use their home life in Brighton Beach as inspiration for a radio comedy skit, the Jerome family may never be the same.
Scenic design is by John Lee Beatty, costume design is by Jane Greenwood, lighting design is by Brian MacDevitt and sound design is by Josh Schmidt and Fitz Patton. Hair and wig design is by Tom Watson.
THE Neil Simon PLAYS will be produced by Ira Pittelman, Max Cooper, Jeffrey Sine, Scott Delman, Ruth Hendel, Roy Furman, Ben Sprecher/Wendy Federman, Scott Landis and Emanuel Azenberg.
Prices are $50-$35 for each individual play for tickets ordered by September 6. Regular pricing will be $100-$65.
THE Neil Simon PLAYS will be performed in repertory on a varied schedule. Tickets are available at www.TicketMaster.com or 212-307-4100. The Nederlander Theatre box office will open on August 31st.
For more information, visit www.TheNeilSimonPlays.com.
Photos by Peter James Zielinski
Alexandra Socha, Jessica Hecht, Noah Robbins, David Cromer, Laurie Metcalf, Neil Simon, Dennis Boutsikaris, Josh Grisetti, Santino Fontana, Allan Miller, and Gracie Bea Lawrence
Alexandra Socha, Jessica Hecht, Noah Robbins, David Cromer, Laurie Metcalf, Neil Simon, Dennis Boutsikaris, Josh Grisetti, and Santino Fontana
David Cromer, Laurie Metcalf, Neil Simon, and Dennis Boutsikaris
Josh Grisetti, Laurie Metcalf, Neil Simon, Dennis Boutsikaris, and Noah Robbins
Josh Grisetti, Laurie Metcalf, Neil Simon, and Noah Robins
Josh Grisetti, Laurie Metcalf, Neil Simon, Noah Robbins, and Santino Fontana
Josh Grisetti, Laurie Metcalf, Neil Simon, Noah Robbins, and Santino Fontana
Alexandra Socha, Jessica Hecht, Neil Simon, Gracie Bea Lawrence, and Allan Miller
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