SBCC Theatre Group Presents LAUGHTER ON THE 23RD FLOOR Through 7/25 At Interim Theatre

SBCC Theatre Group will present Neil Simon's hilarious comedy, LAUGHTER ON THE 23RD FLOOR through July 25, 2009 in the intimate Interim Theatre on SBCC's West Campus.

Directed by Judy Garey, and inspired by Simon's own early-career experience churning out jokes for Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows, Laughter On The 23rd Floor provides a hilarious, behind-the-scenes look at the making of a 1950's television variety show. Re-creating the neuroses, nonstop gags, and constant one-upmanship of a team of brilliant and funny social misfits, Laughter On The 23rd Floor chronicles the pressures of trying to please nervous television executives amid the growing fear of McCarthyism.

The roomfull of oddball writers is largely based on actual personalities from The Show of Shows. The Sid-Caesar-like character of Max Prince, star of a 1953 variety show, is a booze-guzzling, pill-popping comic genius who goes to any lengths to protect his team in the face of network cutbacks. Among the writers are Milt, the insult artist; Ira, the hypochondriac whose dream is to have a virus named after him; and Val, a Russian émigré‚ who takes a Berlitz course so he can curse without an accent.

Part slapstick and part one-liner "schtick", Laughter On The 23rd Floor is a classic American comedy that packs a punch as well as a laugh. Newsweek called it "one of Simon's funniest", and Variety said it was "the funniest comedy on Broadway in years."

Laughter on the 23rd Floor features Joseph Beck, George Coe, Trevor Dow, Leslie Gangl Howe, Jon Koons, Rebecca Ridenour, Justin Stark, Jerry Vassallo, and William H. Waxman.

Please note that the play contains adult language.

Performances run through July 25, 2009, Wednesday through Saturday @ 8pm, Sunday matinees @ 2pm. Performances will take place in the new Interim Theatre located next to the Garvin Theatre turnaround on SBCC's West Campus, 800 block of Cliff Dr. Prices are $15 general, $12 seniors, and $8 students. Due to the intimate nature of the theatre, no late seating is permitted. Call the Interim Theatre Box Office at 965-5935 for reservations and information.

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