Contemporary Theater Company's BUYER AND CELLAR Begins Tonight

What would you do if you had a fortune and a mansion full of beautiful things? Barbra Streisand built a mall of make-believe shops in her basement to hold her memorabilia. This whimsical reality led playwright Jonathan Tolins to write the charming play Buyer and Cellar, playing at the Contemporary Theater Company tonight, September 11, through September 20.

Buyer and Cellar imagines if Barbra Streisand hired someone to work in this underground mall. In this hilarious one-man show, which received rave reviews off-Broadway, Alex, a struggling actor, is hired to dust the dolls, man the frozen yogurt machine, and satisfy the whims of the one and only customer - Ms. Streisand herself. As Alex and Barbra develop an odd but moving relationship, Alex's life gets turned upside down. All of the characters are played by a single actor in a show unlike anything you've seen before.

The New England Premiere of Buyer and Cellar features local actor Kevin Broccoli (The Lyons, 2nd Story Theatre and Lend Me a Tenor, Ocean State Theatre Company) in a solo tour de force, directed by local actress and director Lara Hakeem (Venus in Fur, Sylvia, 2nd Story Theatre and The Other Place, Epic Theatre).

Broccoli, Artistic Director of Epic Theatre in Cranston, was inspired to perform Buyer and Cellar after attending a performance in New York.

"Seeing Buyer and Cellar is one of my favorite theatrical memories," says Broccoli, "It's funny, fresh, and totally unique. I'm thrilled that my good friend and colleague Lara is able to help me to bring it to life."

Performances at the Contemporary Theater Company run from September 11 to September 19 at 7 p.m. with a 2 p.m. matinee on September 20. Buyer and Cellar is produced by the Contemporary Theater Company in cooperation with 2nd Story Theatre in Warren, where the production will continue October 8 - 25.

2nd Story's Artistic Director Ed Shea says, "2nd Story is thrilled to present Buyer & Cellar in cooperation with our colleagues at Contemporary Theatre Company. This collaboration celebrates the abundant talent that thrives throughout our little State."

Information on the tickets, membership, and the upcoming expansion at the Contemporary Theater Company are available online at www.contemporarytheatercompany.com or by calling 401-218-0282.

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