THE NERD Brings on the Laughs at Norris Theatre Tonight

Palos Verdes Performing Arts continues its 33rd season with the comedy, THE NERD, tonight, January 22, through January 31 at the Norris Theatre on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Larry Shue's inventive, side-splitting farce about a socially inept nerd has been called one of the funniest plays ever written.

THE NERD is directed by Ken Parks and produced by James W. Gruessing. Marc Ginsburg* stars as Willum Cubbert, and Ryan Dietz as the nerdy Rick Steadman. Ginsburg is returning to the Norris Theatre, where he was last seen as Leo Bloom in "The Producers." The cast also includes Kellie Cundiff (Tansy); Robert Thurmond (Axel Hammond); Jeremy Carter (Warnock Waldgrave); Rebecca Lumianski (Clelia Waldgrave) and Paul Kerker (Thor Waldgrave).

THE NERD centers on the hilarious dilemma of Willum Cubbert, an unassuming young architect whose life is suddenly upended by an unexpected visit from a man he has never met, but who saved his life in Vietnam. Unfortunately, the hero, Rick Steadman, turns out to be a hopelessly inept "nerd" who quickly wears out his welcome. From the moment the bumbling, tactless visitor appears, everything falls apart, nearly destroying Willum's relationships and career until his friends hatch a plan to evict the "hero." With lovable characters and unexpected twists at every turn, this laugh-out-loud comedy also delivers an inspiring message.

The late playwright Larry Shue is best know for his twin comedic achievements in THE NERD and "The Foreigner," which have enjoyed success worldwide. Both have heroes that are sweet-spirited and innocent men who, despite personal awkwarness, emerge triumphant in saving the day for their friends, and also feature brilliant comic roles. Shue's fascination with shyness and the pain of everyday social ife seems to grow directly from his own experience. "I'm a square," Shue said of himself, "I stammer and stutter a lot. A real klutz, especially when I go out into the workd to do a big thing, like buy a hamburger."

Folling its U.S. premiere in 1981, THE NERD was a hit in London's West End, starring Rowan Atkinson, where it became the all-time top grossing American play in 1990. The production opened on Broadway at the Helen Hayes Theatre in 1987 with "Star Wars" actor, mark Hamill as Willum. THE NERD then moved Off-Broadway, and went on to b ecome the fifth longest-running Off-Broadway play in history.

Performance times are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $48-$58, with a $10 discount for children 12 and under. For more information or to purchase tickets call the box office at (310) 544-0403, ext. 221, or go to www.palosverdesperformingarts.com. The Norris Theatre is located in the Southbay area of Los Angeles at 27570 Norris Center Drive in Rolling Hills Estates.

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