UIS Theatre presents Brighton Beach Memoirs

The Theatre Program at the University of Illinois Springfield presents Brighton Beach Memoirs by Neil Simon, opening Friday, November 7.

Six performances will be presented in the Studio Theatre, on the lower level of the Public Affairs Center at UIS - on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, November 7, 8, and 9, and Thursday, Friday, Saturday, November 13, 14, and 15. All shows will begin at 7:30 p.m., except the Sunday performance (November 9), which will begin at 2 p.m. UIS Associate Professor of Theatre Missy Thibodeaux-Thompson directs the play.

Neil Simon’s first play in the “Eugene” trilogy won the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Play in 1983, and was a nominee for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play. The original Broadway production earned Tony awards and nominations for actors and direction.

Simon’s comedy chronicles the life of fifteen-year-old Eugene Jerome in 1937 Brooklyn. Eugene's memoirs are filled with wit, insight, teenage angst, laughter, tears, and love. He is obsessed with baseball, writing, girls, and sex--not necessarily in that order. He takes us on a journey through the Depression-era trials of his adolescence, along with his Jewish family, complete with an overworked father, an intimidating mother, an older and wiser brother, and other family members squeezed into the small Brighton Beach home. Eugene's father sums up their struggling existence with, "if you didn't have a problem, you wouldn't be living here.”

The cast includes UIS students Diamond Dixon, Emily Hartney, Courtney Kincaid, Christopher Romero, Wesley Skym, Liza Torrence, and Nicholas Jimenez, along with community member Liam Schaver.

Dathan Powell, UIS assistant professor of theatre, is the scene designer/technical director. UIS students Christina Craig, Janaye Godawa, and Angelina Russo comprise the stage management team. Community member Debi Iams is the costume designer, and UIS staff member Kevin Zepp is the lighting designer. Sound and research/design is provided by UIS student Chip Deiss.

Ticket prices are $14 for adults; $12 for senior citizens (65 or older with a picture I.D.); $10 for UIS Faculty/Staff; $8 for UIS students (and all other college-level students) with a valid, current i-card or college I.D. card; and $6 for 17 and under.

Please note that a service charge from Sangamon Auditorium, not included in the prices above, will be added to each ticket price, at the time of purchase. To avoid a higher service charge, buying tickets in person at the Sangamon Auditorium ticket office is highly recommended. You may also purchase tickets over the phone by calling 217/206-6160 or online at www.uis.edu/SangamonAuditorium/.

For more information on the production, contact Missy Thibodeaux-Thompson at 217/206-8307 or mthom1@uis.edu, or visit www.uis.edu/theatre.