Neil Simon's BROADWAY BOUND Bursts Onto Lewis University's Philip Lynch Theatre

Lewis University's Philip Lynch Theatre (PLT) continues "chasing the dream" with the 3rd installment to Neil Simon's autobiographical trilogy, Broadway Bound. Simon has won three Tony Awards, a Pulitzer Prize, the Kennedy Center's Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, and has been nominated for four Academy Awards for his various plays and screenwritings. He has written over 30 plays and during the 1967 Broadway Season had four of his plays in production at the same time (Barefoot in the Park, The Odd Couple, Sweet Charity, and The Star-Spangled Girl). In 1987, Broadway Bound received four nominations for the Best Play and Drama Desk Award, was a nominee for the Tony Award Best Play, and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Drama.

Set in 1949, Broadway Bound finds Eugene (Santos Rivera of Alsip) and his older brother Stanley (Michael Palermo of Westchester) trying to break into the world of show business as professional comedy writers. Meanwhile, the siblings' parents, Kate (Kayla Carson of Oak Lawn) and Jack (Jacob Rodriguez of Chicago) are coping with the break-up of their 33 year marraige. When their comedy routine is broadcast on the radio for the first time, the family is upset to hear a thinly-veiled portrait for themselves played for laughs. Other members of the cast include: Blanche, Kate's remarried and wealthy Park Avenue sister (Terri Arain of Oak Brook), and Ben (Bradform Bingham of Chicago), Eugene's grandfather, a born socialist, and an ardent follower of Trotsky.

The bittersweet comedy is directed by Theatre Department Chair, Keith White of Joliet. Professor Emeritus of Theatre, Harold McCay of Joliet, recreates his set design of the Jerome family home from the 1986 PLT production of Brighton Beach Memoirs. Associate Theatre professor, Andrew Nelsen of Joliet, provides the nostalgic glow of 1940s Brooklyn. Resident costumer, Celeste Mackey of Crest Hill, is providing her talents with vintage wardrobe, hairstyles, and makeup. Working behind the scenes are Julia Egizio of Plainfield (stage manager), Jamie Voustros of Chicago (assistant stage manager), Haley Marchewka of Loves Park, IL and Estefania Flores of Tinley Park (properties managers), Olivia Ferrari of Peru (light board operator), Brianna Knutsen of Plainfield (sound coordinator and operator), and Katie Horn of Sturgis, MI and Aileen O'Carroll of Orland Park (publicity and marketing). The front-of-house staff includes: Hannah Krause of Mazon (box office manager) and Mike Nutter of LaGrange (house manager).

Broadway Bound will be performed February 15-17 and February 21-24 and is recommended for patrons 13 years of age and up. Evening performances are 8 p.m. and the Sunday matinees are 2:30 p.m. In addition, there is a matinee performance at 4 p.m. on February 23. Advanced ticket purchases are strongly encouraged. Ticket prices are $10 for an adult, $9 for students and seniors. Lewis students pay $2 with an ID. Processing fees apply and group tickets are available for parties of 15 or more. Running time of the show is approximately 2 hours 30 minutes with a 15 minute intermission. Online ticket purchases with a credit card are available through the website: www.lewisu.edu/PLTtix. Tickets are non-refundable. For more information patrons can follow the PLT on social media @pltlewisu, call the box office (815) 836-5500 Monday through Friday 1-4:30 p.m., or email boxoffice@lewisu.edu.The theatre is located on the main campus in the Oremus Fine Arts Center on Route 53, Romeoville.

Lewis University is an innovative and forward-thinking Catholic university offering market-relevant undergraduate and graduate programs to 6,500 students. Sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis University is nationally recognized for preparing intellectually engaged, ethically grounded, globally connected and socially responsible graduates. Visit www.lewisu.edu for further information.

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