Photo Flash: THE LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO Opens at Bay Street Theater

Bay Street Theater's THE LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO, the Tony Award-winning play by Alfred Uhry, directed by Will Pomerantz, opened this past week. Bay Street Theater has also announced a special talkback on Tuesday, July 19, with guest speaker -- Rabbi Sheldon Zimmerman of The Jewish Center of the Hamptons. The production runs now through July 24.

Atlanta, 1939. It's the premiere of Gone with the Wind, it's the party of the year, and everything is about to change. The wealthy and important Freitag family is looking forward to Ballyhoo, the lavish German Jewish country club ball, and all it will mean for daughters Lala and Sunny. But life turns upside down when their uncle brings home his new employee, a handsome Eastern European bachelor from Brooklyn. Everyone must confront their own beliefs, prejudices, and desires. The family will never be the same as they take a journey filled with comedy, romance, and surprising revelations.

The cast stars Daniel Abeles (Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again., Where We're Born) as Peachy Weil; Ari Brand (My Name is Asher Lev, Diner) as Joe Farkas; Ellen Harvey (House of Cards, How To Succeed in Business...) as Boo Levy; John Hickok (AIDA,Little Women) as Adolph Freitag; Dori Legg (Good Girls Revolt) as Reba Freitag; Erin Neufer (Nathan the Wise, Where We Are) as Lala Levy; and Amanda Kristin Nichols (The Tempest, Moon Over Buffalo) as Sunny Freitag.

The production team includes Alexander Dodge (Set Designer), Mike Billings (Lighting Designer), Lindsay W. Davis (Costume Designer), Jane Shaw (Sound Designer), Andrew Diaz (Props), Meg Murphy (Hair/ Wig Designer), and Kat West (Production Stage Manager). Casting by Stewart/Whitley.

"The Last Night of Ballyhoo is a great romantic comedy by one of our greatest living American writers, and we are delighted to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of this Tony Award-winning play's premiere as part of our 25th Anniversary at Bay Street," says Artistic Director Scott Schwartz. "With his light and comedic touch, playwright Alfred Uhry brings us a story about family and Jewish identity, and explores questions of cultural assimilation and religious purity. These are timely issues for all of us as Americans, be you Jewish, Christian, Muslim, or from any other faith. I am excited to see this amazing cast and brilliant team of artists create the most glamorous party of the year on stage at Bay Street and bring life to Uhry's complex and refined mothers, daughters, sons and lovers."

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