The Sherman Playhouse Opens 2017 Season With Dark Comedy HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES

On Friday, April 21, The Sherman Playhouse will kick off its 2017 theatrical season with John Guare's award-winning play, The House of Blue Leaves. The curtain rises at 8:00 p.m. for a four-week run.

The play focuses on Artie Shaughnessy, an aspiring songwriter who wants to escape from his wife "Bananas," elope with his Mistress Bunny, and write a hit song to boot. In October 1965, when Pope Paul visits New York, Bunny convinces Artie to call his old school friend Billy, a film director in L.A., to ask for a job scoring Billy's films. However, before Artie can reach Billy, Artie's son goes AWOL from the army with nefarious intentions. The ensuing events are hilarious, thought-provoking and chilling all at once.

"I love this play. It dealt with mental illness long before those words could be said in public," said director Katherine Almquist of Sharon. "It is prescient exploring the violence, fear and terror that can grip someone. The expression "You talkin' to me?" was said here long before the movie 'Taxi Driver.'"

"It's fascinating how [playwright] John Guare is able to mix unbridled, hilarious farce with some pretty heavy undertones," said producer and stage manager David Almquist. "The humor is clever and, oftentimes, just downright wacky. But while you're laughing, you always feel like something ominous is slowly bubbling to the surface."

Area actors featured in the cast are Ron Thomas (Washington), John Fabiani (Watertown), Judy Sullivan (Bridgewater), Blythe Everett, Rufus De Rham (both Kent), Alex Desjardins, Jessica Gleason (both Sherman), Keli Solomon, Stacy-Lee Frome, and Erin Shaughnessy (all New Milford).

Besides Mr. and Mrs. Almquist, the show's crew consists of sound designer David White, lighting designer Al Chiapetta, costumer Lisa Bonelli, and set designer Bill Hughes.

The House of Blue Leaves made its debut Off-Broadway at the Truck and Warehouse Theatre on February 10, 1971, winning the Obie and Drama Critics' Circle Awards for Best American Play. Fifteen years later, it was revived on Broadway at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre on April 29, 1986, where it was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play. The New York Times called the play an "enchantingly zany and original farce."

The House of Blue Leaves runs April 21,22 28,29,30 May 5,6,7 12,13,14 at 8:00 p.m. on Fridays & Saturdays with three 2:00 p.m. Sunday matinees on April 30, May 7 and 14. Tickets are $24 for adults and $12 for children.

On Thursday, April 20, all patrons are invited to attend a "Half-Price Preview Night" at 8:00 p.m., where tickets are only $12. Students may see any performance for only $12 if they pay in cash only at the door and carry a valid student ID. Students may not make reservations in advance for a performance.

Reservations can be made online at shermanplayers.org or by calling the box office at (860) 354-3622.
The Sherman Playhouse is a non-Equity theatre company located at 5 Route 39 North (next to the firehouse) in Sherman, CT.

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