Lynn Cohen to Lead Barrington Stage Company's LOST IN YONKERS

Barrington Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, will present Neil Simon's award-winning comedy Lost in Yonkers from July 16 to August 1. The press opening is Sunday, July 19 at 5pm.

Winner of the Tony Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize, Lost in Yonkers is a heartfelt and hilarious coming-of-age story by America's great comic playwright, Neil Simon. Jenn Thompson makes her BSC directing debut. She is the Co-Artistic Director of The Actors Company Theatre (TACT) in NYC, where she recently directed Beth Henley's Abundance.

Lynn Cohen (Mags in The Hunger Games, Judge Mizener on TV's Law & Order, Magda in Sex and the City) stars as Grandma Kurnitz.Paula Jon DeRose (Broadway: Lucky Guy) as Bella, Dominic Comperatore as Eddie, Stephanie Cozart as Aunt Gert, Jake Giordano as Arty, Matt Gumley as Jay, and David Christopher Wells as Uncle Louie.

Like many of Simon's plays, Lost in Yonkers is drawn from his experiences growing up in New York City. Set during World War II, two young brothers, Arty and Jay, are sent to live with their formidable German Jewish immigrant grandmother, the sweet but mentally challenged Aunt Bella, and Uncle Louie, a small-time hoodlum running away from gangsters.

Simon's canon of comedies include such classics as The Odd Couple, Barefoot in the Park, California Suite, and his award-winning trilogy Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biloxi Blues, and Broadway Bound.

The original production of Lost in Yonkers played 780 performances at Broadway's Richard Rodgers Theatre. Gene Saks directed Irene Worth, Mercedes Ruehl and Kevin Spacey (all of them won Tony Awards for their performances). Simon wrote the later screenplay for the 1993 film directed by Martha Coolidge, starring Richard Dreyfus with Worth and Ruehl repeating their roles.

Lost in Yonkers is sponsored Norma and Sol Kugler.

The production is designed by John McDermott (sets), Jenn Caprio (costumes), Martin Vreeland (lights) and Brad Berridge (sound). Michael Andrew Rogers is production stage manager.

Performances of Lost in Yonkers are Tuesday and Wednesday at 7pm, Thursday-Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 5pm, Wednesday and Friday matinees at 2pm (excluding 7/16, 7/18). Press Opening: Sunday, July 19 at 5pm. Tickets start at $20. Low priced previews July 16-18 are $15/$20. Youth ages 6-18, tickets $15/$20 all performances (subject to availability). For ticket and performance information, call the BSC Box Office at (413) 236-8888 or visit www.barringtonstageco.org.

Photo by Walter McBride

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