Brighton Beach Memoirs

A Comedy by Neil Simon

October 4 & 5, 2002

Directed by Corey Crawford
Production Secretary - Ada Cole
Production Assistant - John Parisi
Lights - John Parisi
Spotlight - Ricky Hand
Stage Assistants - Gail Sheehan, Meghan Lindstrom, Kaitlin Hand
Sound - Betty DeAlmeida
Set Design - Corey Crawford, John Parisi
Concessions - Liz Burns
Tickets - Betty DeAlmeida
Program Design - Lucille Sena Anlas

Come with us to 1937 Brooklyn and meet Eugene Jerome and his family fighting the hard times and sometimes each other--with laughter, tears, and love. Fifteen-year-old Eugene (Brendan Ruppenthal) lives in Brighton Beach with his family. He is witty, perceptive, obsessed with sex, and forever fantasizing his baseball diamond triumphs as star pitcher for the New York Yankees. As our guide through his "memoirs," Eugene introduces us to each member of his family. His mother, Kate (Janet Lynn Spahr), is a simple woman trying to keep her family together and the house in order. Aunt Blanche (Phyllis Engelman) is a timid woman who is still dealing with the death of her husband six years later. Laurie (Kara Krichman), the youngest of Blanche's daughters, is an over-pampered thirteen-year-old, due to the "flutter" in her heart. Nora (Breanne Cade) longs for her mother's attention, wants to audition for a Broadway show, and is the object of Eugene's dreams. Stanley (Ian Zapcic) is the typical older brother who one minute is giving out his not always accurate wisdom, and the next doesn't want to be bothered by his little brother. His father, Jack (Bill Weston), does his best to work hard to keep food on the table for seven people, and this ultimately ends up causing him health problems.

Eugene takes us through a series of trenchant observations and insights that show his family meeting challenges with pride, spirit, and a marvelous sense of humor. But as World War II looms ever closer, Eugene sees his own innocence slipping away as the first important era of his life ends--and a new one begins.