BEAU JEST Runs at Glendale Centre Theatre, 8/18-9/24

BEAU JEST, the hilarious romp from playwright James Sherman, will have its Los Angeles revival August 18 - September 24, 2011 at the Glendale Centre Theatre (GCT). This heartwarming story about a beautiful young school teacher from Chicago, begs the question: How far will you go to satisfy your parents? Convinced that her parents won't approve of her gentile boyfriend, an eager-to-please daughter hires an actor to play the man of her mother's dreams (not just a doctor; a surgeon!) until she can work up the nerve to tell them the truth. But when her parents fall in love with her new beau, can she remember not to do the same? Imagine My Big Fat Greek Wedding meets The Wedding Date with a little Fiddler on the Roof thrown in for good measure, and you've got a delightful family comedy which not only ran for nearly three years Off-Broadway at the Lamb's Theatre in New York City, but became a successful motion picture in 2008 starring Laine Kazan.

Directed by Martin Lang, the upcoming Glendale Centre Theatre production stars Alison Robertson as daughter Sarah Goldman, Mario Di Dregorio and Elaine Rose as her parents Abe and Miriam Goldman, Danny Michaels as brother Joel, Shawn Cahill as her gentile boyfriend Chris Cringle, and Kelly Flynn as the actor hired to impersonate her fabricated Jewish boyfriend Bob Schroeder.

ABOUT THE PRINCIPALS:
Alison Robertson (Sarah Goldman) was last on the GCT stage in Footloose and A Christmas Carol. She has been seen in many national commercials and television shows such as Better Off Ted, West Wing, and Dawson's Creek. Daytime television audiences will remember her as Heather Down's on the NBC hit drama Passions.

Mario Di Gregorio (Abe Goldman) has been associated as an actor or a director in 126 productions at the GCT since 1962... including Squabbles, Over the River and Through the Woods, and Lend me a Tenor. He is currently completing the his role as Col Thomas McKean in the GCT's presentation of the Tony Award-winning musical 1776.

Elaine Rose (Miriam Goldman) is also a GCT favorite, having appeared in Over the River and Through the Woods, See How They Run, Arsenic & Old Lace, and Come Blow Your Horn. Ms. Rose was also seen in one of Chevrolet's five Autobot "Transformer" commercials made specifically for broadcast in and around this year's Super Bowl XLV.

Danny Michaels (Joel Goldman) is a veteran of musical theatre, having appeared throughout Southern California as "Will Rogers" in The Will Rogers Follies, and opposite Sally Struthers in The Drowsey Chaperone. Michaels has also co-starred in Disney's Beauty and the Beast, and Maury Yeston and Arthur Kopit's Phantom. He has also appeared at the Hollywood Bowl with Placido Domingo and Carol Channing.

Shawn Cahill (Chris Cringle) is currently featured in The Little Mermaid, part of the GCT's continuing series of fully produced children's musicals. He most recently appeared in Big River and Theatre Unleashed's Supersidekick: The Musical, part of the 2011 Hollywood Fringe Festival.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR:

Martin Lang returns to the Glendale Centre Theatre for his 7th production having previously directing the critically acclaimed productions of Bye Bye Birdie and Oklahoma. His work has been seen at other venues throughout Southern California including Candlelight Pavilion, the Studio Theatre and the Long Beach Playhouse.

ABOUT THE PRODUCERS and CREATIVE TEAM:

Brenda & Tim Dietlein (Producers) - Born into the Hale/Dietlein family, owners and operators of the the Glendale Centre Theatre, Tim Dietlein joined his family in 1982 as Associate Producer. Since that time, he has not only assisted in creating the GCT's highly successful children's theatre series, but continued the innovative growth and success of the GCT. In 1994, Mr. Dietlein became Executive Producer of the Glendale Centre Theatre and continues to produce, direct, act, and write plays for the 400 seat theatre in-the-round. Wife and mother Brenda Dietlein also serves as Executive Producer and shares all theatrical responsibilities with her husband. Now in its 64th year, the Glendale Centre Theatre is not only an Equity Guest Contract venue; but the longest, continually-operating theatre in the United States.

Angela Wood (Costume Design) - Having received her degree in Costume Design from Pittsburgh's Point Park College, the award-winning Angela Wood has been an integral staff member at the Glendale Centre Theatre's Costume Shoppe since 2005. GCT credits include Phantom, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Singin' in The Rain, Footloose, Kiss Me Kate, The Will Rogers Follies, Beauty and the Beast and many more; plus six productions of the GCT's annual holiday classic A Christmas Carol. In addition to GCT's main stage shows, Ms. Wood has designed costumes for the GCT's children's musical theatre series, as well as their educational program Shakespeare Live!  In 2010, Miss Wood joined forces with Costume Designer Ann Closs-Farley on the Broadway Production of Pee Wee's Playhouse. In doing so, she built the new "Miss Yvonne" character dress. Ms. Wood received a Best 2009/2010 Costume Citation from Stage Scene LA for her work at the GCT.

Set Design and Lighting Design is by Tim Dietlein. Nathan J. Milisavlejevich: Sound Design.
Paul Reid: Stage Manager. Tim Dietlein oversees Stage Management and also serves as the GCT's Artistic Director. Michael Sterling & Associates: Publicity and Public Relations.

PERFORMANCE DATES, TIMES AND LOCATION:

Performances of BEAU JEST are August 18 through September 24 and will be presented Thursday - Saturday Evenings at 8:00 pm with Saturday matinees at 3:00 pm. Sunday Matinees will are also be presented at 3:00 pm on August 1 and August 28 only. And, an additional performance on Wednesday, August 24 at 8:00 pm has just been added. Tickets range between $21 - $23, pending the date and time of the performance. Discount rates are available for groups of 15 or more. The Glendale Centre Theatre is located at 324 N. Orange St., Glendale, CA 91203. Reservations and/or ticket purchases may be made by calling (818) 244-8481. Fax: (818) 244-5042. Box Office hours are Monday - Saturday: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm. For further information, please visit www.glendalecentretheatre.com.

 

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