Broadway Onstage Presents Neil Simon's THE SUNSHINE BOYS, 2/21-3/22

The 20th Season of Broadway Onstage Live Theatre and the 33rd, and final, season of Dennis Wickline Productions continues with the Neil Simon Comedy THE SUNSHINE BOYS, opening on Friday, February 21 and running Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Select Sundays at 2pm through Saturday, March 22.

Select Sunday Matinees are only performed at Broadway Onstage when a prearranged group of 30 or more is scheduled to attend. Broadway Onstage Live Theatre is located at 21517 Kelly Rd. at Toepfer (8 ½ Mile Rd.) in Eastpointe. The theatre is the home of the patented TeeVeeStage™ Presentation system, which employs cameras above the audience and monitors above the stage to provide audience members with different viewing perspectives of the live stage performance. Broadway Onstage Live Theatre is also the home of Dennis Wickline Productions, Inc., which began producing Non-Equity professional Live Theatre on the Eastside of Detroit in February of 1980.

THE SUNSHINE BOYS introduces us to Al Lewis and Willie Clark. Al and Willie as "Lewis and Clark" were top-billed vaudevillians for over forty years. Now they aren't even speaking. When CBS requests them for a "History of Comedy" retrospective, a grudging reunion brings the two back together. The year is 1972. Willie's long suffering nephew and agent, Ben, tries to negotiate the reunion. He invites Al to Willie's room for a rehearsal, and that begins a flood of memories, miseries and laughs. As the New York Post says, "it's ham on wry...Simon's sure footed craftsmanship and his one liners are as exquisitely apt as ever." The New York Daily News said of THE SUNSHINE BOYS, "Another hit for Simon in a shrewdly balanced, splendid and rather touching slice of the show biz life."

Portraying Al Lewis and Willie Clark are Rick Mason and Dennis Wickline, respectively. Mr. Mason was just seen at Broadway Onstage as Dub in the Holiday Comedy CHRISTMAS BELLES. Mr. Mason was also seen there last season as Michael in THE GOD OF CARNAGE and several seasons ago as Kevin in THE SCOTTISH PLAY. Mr. Wickline is the producer of all shows at Broadway Onstage and was seen there two seasons ago as Olin, the Scrooge understudy, in THE CHRISTMAS CAROL CAPER, SCROOGE THIS! and several seasons ago as David O'Selznick in MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS. Longtime Broadway Onstage favorite John Arden McClure takes on the role of Ben, Willie's nephew and agent. Mr. McClure was just seen as Justin in CHRISTMAS BELLES and Sherlock Holmes in THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES.

Donna DiSante, Isobel Lomax in THE KITCHEN WITCHES earlier this season, will portray the Registered Nurse that comes in to help Willie. The cast is completed by Sharron Nelson as the Sketch Nurse, Peter Cucinella as the Patient, and Elizabeth Rager as the TV Assistant Director. Ms. Nelson was just seen as Twink in CHRISTMAS BELLES, Ms. Rager appeared as Joanne/Bea in YOU JUST HAVE NO IDEA, and Mr. Cucinella was seen last season as Arvide at Broadway Onstage in THE GREAT AMERICAN SEX FARCE!

The production is under the direction of Christopher Oakley, Frank in HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES last season at Broadway Onstage, and director of a number of productions there, including MISERY and last season's THE GREAT AMERICAN SEX FARCE!

Tickets for Opening Night Friday, February 21 are $15. Tickets for all other performances are $18. Again, Broadway Onstage is located at 21517 Kelly Rd. at Toepfer (8 1/2 Mile Rd.) in Eastpointe, Michigan. Ticket Reservations are strongly recommended by calling (586) 771-6333.

To post a comment, you must register and login.