Photo Flash: New Edgecliff Theatre's ANGRY HOUSEWIVES

Now in its eleventh season, New Edgecliff Theatre (NET) is about to produce its first bona fide musical ever, and it's doing it with a bang, bringing to Cincinnati the regional premiere of A.M. Collins' and Chad Henry's "Angry Housewives". The show is presented April 16 - May 2, Thur-Sat 7:30pm.

Angry Housewives is a musical about disgruntled suburban wives who band together to form a punk rock group. The show premiered at the Pioneer Square Theatre in Seattle for what was planned to be a five-week run and ran through most of the 1980s. Funny and feverishly entertaining, this musical puts a satirical twist on 1980s feminism with numbers like "Man from Glad" and "Eat Your F--kin' Cornflakes!".

Bored with their everyday lives and kept in insignificance by their boyfriends/husbands, these are four angry women. They try a number of outlets, including makeup parties, but nothing suits until one of them strikes a chord on her guitar and suggests that they form a punk rock group to enter the upcoming talent show at the neighborhood punk club. They form "The Angry Housewives," and change the face of punk forever.

A.M. (Anna Marie) Collins wrote the dialogue and lyrics with additional lyrics and music by Chad Henry. Three different Disney affiliates at one time or another have optioned the script for movie treatments. Henry has been associated with the Denver Center Theatre Company as an actor and in new-play development, and is the author of nearly 20 plays and musicals. But it's Angry Housewives, which he wrote with A.M. Collins in 1983, that tops his list of hits. The production opened Off-Broadway in 1986 and has had a healthy run in regional theater.

Directed by NET Associate Artistic Director Nathan Gabriel with musical direction by Brian Hoffman, choreography by Kim Popa, costumes by Caren Young, sets by Melissa Bennett and lights by Glen Goodwin. Featuring Aretta Baumgartner, Molly Binder, Kate Glasheen, Angela Nalley, Mike Hall, Sean Parker, Joshua Steele and Ty Yadzinski.

At the Columbia Performance Center, 3900 Eastern Avenue, Columbia Tusculum. Around the corner from Tostado's, Allyn's, Bella Luna and the Precinct.

Tickets: $20, Adult -- $15, Senior -- $12, Students. Available online at www.newedgecliff.com. To reserve tickets or for more information, call 888-588-0137