Florida Rep's 2011-2012 Season Opens with the Neil Simon farce, RUMORS

Florida Rep's 2011-2012 Season Opens with the Neil Simon Farce, RUMORS 

Florida Repertory Theatre announced the opening of its 2011-2012 season with Rumors, one of the funniest farces ever written by America's favorite playwright.

Neil Simon's comic masterpiece plays Oct. 28 through Nov. 19, with discounted previews on Oct. 25, 26 and 27, and is a laugh-out-loud evening of miscommunication, misunderstanding and gossip-driven hilarity.  

"This really is one of the funniest plays in the English language," said Producing Artistic Director, Robert Cacioppo, "and I know that audiences want more than ever to laugh - and believe me, they will."

In Rumors, the stage is set for a lavish anniversary party in an elegant mansion outside of New York City, but as the first guests arrive something is fishy. Their host lies bleeding in the bedroom, his wife is nowhere to be found, and the servants have vanished leaving dinner half prepared. Four couples are about to have the worst night of their lives as they desperately try to put the pieces together before the other guests show up.

Rumors features an all-star line-up of Florida Rep ensemble members, and introduces Southwest Florida audiences to a few new faces from around the country. Brad DePlanche, Michelle Damato, David Breitbarth, Carrie Lund, David S. Howard, Viki Boyle, Peter Thomasson, and Jackie Schram star as the four hapless couples under duress. Mark Chambers and Florida Rep intern, Julianne Avolio, join the party a bit later as two police officers on what turns out to be a less-than-routine investigation.

The Gormans, DePlanche and Damato were seen most recently in two of last season's hits: DePlanche as a clown in Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps, and Damato as the canine title role in Florida Rep's nationally acclaimed Sylvia. As Mr. and Mrs. Ganz, the company's co-founder and long-time ensemble member, Carrie Lund, who last appeared in King o' the Moon and August: Osage County, joins Rep newcomer David Breitbarth. Though a newcomer to Florida Rep, Breitbarth is no stranger to stages across the country and in Florida, and is a permanent fixture at Sarasota's Asolo Rep. David S. Howard and Viki Boyle join the party as the Cusacks. Also a long-time company member at the Asolo, Howard, who played on Broadway in I'm Not Rappaport, has worked extensively at Florida Rep, and is remembered for performances in Tuesdays with Morrie, Trying, and You Cant Take it With You, among others. New York-based actress, Viki Boyle, returns to Florida Rep after her appearance in last season's opener, Noises Off. Peter Thomasson and Jackie Schram join the party as politician, Glenn Cooper, and his trophy wife, Cassie. Thomasson returns to Florida Rep after a two-year absence, last seen in Florida Rep's Dancing at Lughnasa, while Schram, a former intern with the company, joins the cast of Rumors after starring in the most recent national tour of The 39 Steps. As officer Welch and his partner, Pudney, Mark Chambers returns after appearances in King o' the Moon and August: Osage County, and Avolio makes her Florida Rep debut in Rumors.

Producing Artistic Director, Robert Cacioppo, directs the production, and is joined by an expert team of designers, including set designer Jim Hunter (August: Osage Counrty; The Big Bang), lighting designer David M. Upton (August: Osage County), Florida Rep's resident costumer Roberta Malcom (Sylvia, Gaslight), resident sound designer Kate Smith (King o' the Moon), and production stage manager Amy Massari (The Devil's Music).

Neil Simon's Rumors plays Oct. 28-Nov. 18, with previews on Oct. 25 at 8pm, Oct. 26 at 2pm and Oct. 27 at 8pm. Regular performances are Tues. - Sat. at 8pm, with matinees on Wed., Sun., and selected Saturdays at 2pm with a 7pm twilight performance on Sun. Oct. 30.

Single tickets are now on sale through the box office at 239-332-4488, online at www.floridarep.org, and are $45/$40 and $25/$20 for discounted previews. Subscriptions for the 2011-2012 Season offer the best savings, and packages start as low as $140 for 7 shows.

Florida Repertory Theatre performs in the Historic Arcade Theatre on Bay St. between Jackson & Hendry with ample free parking in the Fort Myers River District.

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