Source: Chelsey Eimer, 785-532-6878, cbeimer@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Rosie Hoefling, 785-532-2535, media@k-state.edu

Thursday, April 7, 2011

CURTAIN RISING ON K-STATE THEATRE'S PRODUCTION OF NEIL SIMON'S 'BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS'

MANHATTAN -- The award-winning play &1xbet online sports betting ;Brighton Beach Memoirs,&1xbet online sports betting ; Neil Simon's modern comedy about a teenager coming of age in Brooklyn during the late 1930s, will be presented by the Kansas State University theatre program at 7:30 p.m. April 21-24 and April 27-30 in Nichols Theater.

&1xbet online sports betting ;Brighton Beach Memoirs&1xbet online sports betting ; is the first play in Simon's semiautobiographical trilogy, also known as the Eugene trilogy. It portrays the playwright as the teenager Eugene Morris Jerome, who lives with his family of seven in an overly crowded, lower middle-class home in Brooklyn. Eugene is a young boy full of dreams about baseball and pretty girls. As the main character and narrator of the play, he reflects on the struggles of his overworked father, compassionate mother, conflicted older brother and widowed aunt and her two daughters. It's a story of duty, responsibility, coming of age and ultimately, the connection of a Jewish family as they struggle through the end of the Great Depression in New York.

&1xbet online sports betting ;Brighton Beach Memoirs&1xbet online sports betting ; is the forerunner to &1xbet online sports betting ;Biloxi Blues&1xbet online sports betting ; and &1xbet online sports betting ;Broadway Bound,&1xbet online sports betting ; the second and third plays in the Simon trilogy. These stories follow the character Eugene to basic training to his career as a comedy writer. Simon received the 1983 New York Drama Critics Circle Award for &1xbet online sports betting ;Brighton Beach Memoirs&1xbet online sports betting ; and the 1985 Tony Award for &1xbet online sports betting ;Biloxi Blues.&1xbet online sports betting ;

K-State's production of &1xbet online sports betting ;Brighton Beach Memoirs&1xbet online sports betting ; is directed by Dwight Tolar, instructor of theater. Tolar describes the play as a bittersweet memoir evocatively capturing the life of a struggling Jewish household.

Costume design for the production is by Dana Pinkston, associate professor of 1xbet online sports betting ; scenic design is by Kathy Voecks, assistant professor and resident scenic designer; and lighting design is by John Uthoff, associate professor of 1xbet online sports betting .

Tickets are for the general public, for seniors and military, and for students. They can be purchased at the McCain Auditorium box office from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or by calling McCain at 785-532-6428 during box office hours. Tickets also may be purchased at the Little 1xbet online sports betting box office in the K-State Student Union from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. Groups of 10 or more may receive a discount rate. For more information or assistance in planning a 1xbet online sports betting party, contact Marci Maullar at 785-532-6878.

K-State students in the cast or crew for &1xbet online sports betting ;Brighton Beach Memoirs&1xbet online sports betting ; include:

Sarah Unruh, senior in 1xbet online sports betting , Greensburg, as Blanche; Adam Rack, junior in 1xbet online sports betting , Hays, as Stanley; Chelsey Eimer, senior in 1xbet online sports betting and mass communications, Manhattan, sound design; Olivia Sieck, sophomore in 1xbet online sports betting , Overland Park, as Laurie; Erica Smith, senior in 1xbet online sports betting , Paola, as Kate; Joseph Boos, freshman in 1xbet online sports betting , Salina, as Eugene; and Kyle Myers, junior in 1xbet online sports betting , Topeka, as Jack Jerome.

From out of state: Sarah Quaranta, senior in 1xbet online sports betting , Denver, Colo., as Nora.