A mother's bitterness colors the lives of her two high school-aged daughters in Paul Zindel's 1971 Pulitzer Prize-winning "The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds", coming to Catskill's Bridge Street Theatre for eight performances July 6-16. Called "the most compelling work of its kind since Tennessee Williams' 'The Glass Menagerie'", this poignant and lyrical drama will be performed by a cast of five brilliant female actors, led by Bridge Street favorite Roxanne Fay ("Home Fires Burning", "Dream Child", "Upon This Rock") in the role of Beatrice Hunsdorfer.
The original Off-Broadway production of the play opened in April of 1970 and ran for 819 performances, winning not just the Pulitzer, but also the New York Drama Critics' Circle and Obie Awards for Best Play of the Year. A film version was released in 1972, directed by Paul Newman and starring his wife JoAnne Woodward, who won the award for Best Actress at the 1973 Cannes Film Festival for her performance. In the following decade, the play was widely produced internationally, regionally, and in countless college and high school productions. Then it seemed to vanish.Appearing with Roxanne Fay in the cast of this production are NYC actress Kalia Lay as Ruth, regional actress Doris Seipel as Nanny, and two students from Catskill High School - Lindsay Cahill as Tillie and Alexa Powell as Janice Vickery. The production is directed by Steven Patterson, with sets and lights by John Sowle, costumes by Michelle Rogers, and sound by Carmen Borgia. The Production Stage Manager is Caedmon Holland.
"The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds" will be presented on the Bridge Street Theatre Mainstage Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2:00pm from July 6-16. The Thursday July 6 preview and the Sunday July 9matinee are both "Pay-What-You-Will" performances. Advance tickets are available for $22 at BrownPaperTickets.com or by calling 800-838-3006. Tickets can also be purchased at the door prior to each performance (on a space available basis) for $25. Students age 21 and under are always $10. The theatre is located at 44 West Bridge Street in the Village of Catskill, NY. Don't miss this chance to see a neglected masterpiece of American drama restored to the stage.Videos