Steve Martin's THE UNDERPANTS to Open at Blackfriars Theatre

Blackfriars Theatre kicks off the New Year with a rollicking sex farce: The Underpants, by Carl Sternheim, adapted by legendary comedian Steve Martin. With a dynamic cast led by veteran director David Henderson, this production will be a cure for your winter blues and a treat for your valentine.

Theobald Maske has an unusual problem: his wife's underpants won't stay on. One Sunday morning they fall to her ankles right in the middle of town-a public scandal! Mortified, Theo swears to keep her at home until she can find some less unruly undies. Amid this chaos, two men, sparked by Louise's bloomer blunder, arrive to rent the spare room in the Maske's household. Oblivious of their amorous objectives, Theo splits the room between them, happy to collect rent from both the foppish poet and the whiny hypochondriac who have been smitten by his wife's antics!

"I've always been enamored by and impressed with Steve Martin's work. So many who love him in movies or Saturday Night Live don't know of his playwriting talent," shares Blackfriars' Artistic and Managing Director Danny Hoskins. "This adaption is just one of his creations I've wanted to bring to the stage. I can't wait for our audiences to see it come to life."

The cast features the incredible talents of Andrew Cowen as Klinglehoff, Daniel Mejak as Benjamin Cohen, Adam Petzold as Theobald Maske, Jonathan Porter as Frank Versati, Dawn Sargent as Gertrude Deuter, and Jillian Severin as Louise Maske. The show is directed by David Henderson.

"It's not easy to get people to brave the winter weather in February," comments Henderson. "But we know there's nothing like a peek of lacy lingerie to tease you out of your house and get the blood rushing!"

The Underpants will play at Blackfriars Theatre beginning February 3 through February 19. Performances are Fridays, February 3, 10, and 17, at 8:00 p.m.; Saturdays, February 4 (note: start time is 7 p.m.), 11, and 18 at 8:00 p.m.; Sundays, February 5, 12, and 19 at 2:00 p.m.; and Thursdays, February 9 and 16 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $28.50-$36.50 and available in person at Blackfriars Theatre, online at www.blackfriars.org, or by calling 585-454-1260. Senior and student discount tickets are available online or through the Box Office. If available, tickets can be purchased at the door beginning one hour prior to each performance. Box Office hours are Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover are accepted at no additional charge.

Blackfriars Theatre, a professional, not-for-profit theatre, is located at 795 East Main Street. Parking is available on site. Handicapped seating is available. For more information regarding Blackfriars Theatre, visit www.blackfriars.org.

Pictured: Adam Petzold and Jillian Severin. Photo by Dan Howell.

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