BLEACHER BUMS to Return to The Broadway Theater as Cubs Race for the Pennant

The classic comedy about the team once known as the "lovable losers" will run throughout a post-season schedule in which the Cubs may play in the World Series for the first time in 71 years

A bygone era in which Chicago Cubs fans continually had to "wait until next year" will be celebrated with a nostalgic production of the Chicago classic comedy Bleacher Bums, staged just a few blocks from Wrigley Field in The Broadway Theater of the Pride Arts Center, 4139 N Broadway.

Bleacher Bums, which premiered 39 years ago at the Organic Theater, will be directed for Open Space by Nich Radcliffe. Radcliffe's production will begin performances September 22 and run through November 6. Press night is September 24. The run is scheduled to coincide with the League Playoffs in early-mid October and the World Series, which will begin on October 25th and conclude no later than November 2, just days before Bleacher Bums closes on November 6.

Bleacher Bums, which premiered in 1977, was written collaboratively by members of the Organic Theatre Company, from an idea by actor Joe Mantegna, who appeared in the original cast along with Dennis Franz and seven other actors. In a funny and touching 90 minutes, a collection of unique Cubs fans watch a game between their heroes and their dreaded arch rival, the St. Louis Cardinals, and talk about life as we watch them kvetch, bet, and persevere.

This production will use the revised script set in the summer of 1997, updated to mention players from that summer - Sammy Sosa, Kerry Wood, Mark Grace - who will no doubt be remembered fondly by Cubs regulars in spite of the team's disappointing season.

Jerry Pritikin (pictured), the longtime Cubs fan known as the "Bleacher Preacher," is serving as a consultant to this production to advise on fan vernacular and behavior of the times.

Bleacher Bums' original Chicago production was directed by Stuart Gordon. A 1979 performance of the play was taped for PBS, and in 2002 a made for TV adaptation was produced. It has subsequently been performed around the world. Nich Radcliffe (director) holds a BA in Theater Arts from National-Louis University and an MFA in Directing from Southern Illinois University. Chicago/Midwest credits include: Blue Blood (Douglas-Johnson), Trice (Arends) the buffo opera The Music Shop (Wargo), Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Martin), Beyond the Horizon (O'Neill), The Elephant Man (Pomerance), The Crucible (Miller) and Shakespeare's Macbeth. You can find more about Nich at www.nichradcliffe.com and on Facebook at Nich Radcliffe - Director.

IF YOU GO:

Bleacher Bums
Conceived by Joe Mantegna and written by the Organic Theatre Company
Directed by Nich Radcliffe

September 22 - November 6, 2016
Previews Thursday, September 22 and Friday, September 23 at 7:30 pm - $15
Press Opening Saturday Sept 24 at 7:30.

Regular run through November 6, 2016, with performances Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday at 3 pm. (Sunday Oct 2 performance is at 7:00 pm.)

At The Broadway, Pride Arts Center, 4139 N. Broadway

Reserved seats for each regular run performance are $30. General admission, student, and senior tickets are $20.

For tickets (available beginning Monday, Sept. 5) and more information visit www.brownpapertickets.com or call 1 800 838 3006.

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