Marc Grapey Replaces George Wendt in Northlight's THE ODD COUPLE

Northlight Theatre announces today that George Wendt is leaving the cast of The Odd Couple for medical reasons.

"George checked into the hospital Sunday evening with chest pains, is getting medical attention and will eventually make a full recovery. All of us at Northlight wish George all the best for a speedy recuperation," says Executive Director Timothy Evans.

Chicago actor and Broadway veteran Marc Grapey will step in to the role of Oscar Madison. Grapey was playing the role of Murray the Cop in the Northlight production and was previously in the Broadway production with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick. The production will run, as planned, November 2-December 9, 2012, at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie. The Press Opening is Friday, November 9, at 7:30 pm.

“George is family to us at Northlight and we wish him well for a complete and speedy recovery. He was part of an ensemble cast of Chicago comic actors that appreciate each other’s talents, support each other’s work and lift each other up. He will be missed in the rehearsal room and on stage,” says director/Artistic Director BJ Jones. “We are so fortunate to have the brilliant Chicago actor Marc Grapey on our team, who was in the Broadway company of The Odd Couple, covering for both Nathan Lane and going on for Matthew Broderick. Marc will step in to the role and we couldn’t be more pleased to have his talent and energy in the cast.”

When recently-failed marriages lead famously mismatched roommates Oscar and Felix into sharing an apartment, Felix’s finicky habits and Oscar’s slovenly ways make for a disastrous yet side-splittingly funny combination in this beloved comedy by Neil Simon. The Chicago cast of comic actors includes Tim Kazurinsky (Felix), Marc Grapey (Oscar), Bruce Jarchow (Roy), William Dick (Vinnie), Molly Glynn (Cecily), Katherine Keberlein (Gwen) and Phil Ridarelli (Speed). The role of Murray the Cop is TBA.