Newnan Theatre Company Presents THE BOYS NEXT DOOR

It has been said that neighbors are like relatives - you don't get to choose them. But if you could, the motley (yet adorable) crew in The Boys Next Door might be your choice for the folks you would like to see in the next house over. This warm and effective comedy by Tom Griffin, which opens at Newnan Theatre Company on March 7th, deals with four mentally challenged men living in a group home supervised by their young caseworker. Each member of Jack's quartet has a different degree of difficulty when coping with the world, but all embrace life as well as they can manage.

There's Arnold, a man who lives with a mild mental disability who works at the local movie theatre as a janitor. He tends to be very obsessive compulsive and is very hyperactive, talking constantly. He's also often abused by his coworkers and afraid to fight back. Norman, a middle-aged man with mental disabilities, works in a doughnut shop. Eating doughnuts has caused him to become overweight. His girlfriend, Sheila, lives at another group home. Lucien faces extremely debilitating mental disorders. Despite the fact he cannot read, he insists on checking out armloads of books from the library. He is at risk of losing his disability funds when the state senate accuses him of faking his mental condition. And there's Barry, a 28-year-old man with schizophrenia who believes he is a pro golfer. He gets highly agitated over small things, partly because he has had a very traumatic life growing up with an abusive father. Jack Palmer is their social worker, who has found himself increasingly burned out and is thinking about a new line of work.

Director Richard McMichen is no stranger to the local theatre community. He spent many years at East Coweta High School, teaching drama and directing shows. This is his second time directing The Boys Next Door, and he jumped at the chance to direct the show again. "I love the stories of each of these men," he says. "It's very easy to glance over men like these characters in this world, but by doing so, you ignore a real person. This show brings these stories to life and lets each one shine in his own right."

The four men are played by Michael Maske (Arnold), Jason Schmidt (Lucien), Matt Perdue (Norman), and Josh Hendricks (Barry). Michael Roach plays Jack, their caseworker. NTC newcomer Faith Farrell plays Norman's girlfriend, Sheila. Steven Denham plays Barry's father, Mr. Klemper. Terri Whitley plays three roles, acting as Mrs. Fremus, Mrs. Warren, and Clara. Joseph Moore also plays three roles, as Senator Clarke, Mr. Hedges, and Mr. Corbin.

Tom Griffin's The Boys Next Door opens on March 7th at Newnan Theatre Company and runs through March 17th. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased through the Newnan Theatre Company website, www.newnantheatre.org , or by calling the NTC offices at 770.683.6282. Show times are 8 PM, Thursdays through Saturdays, with Sunday shows having a 3 PM matinee time. The Box Office opens one hour prior to show time.

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