TBT Tickets on Sale Now
Posted Tuesday, February 02, 2010
The winter TBT show has been changed from “How The Other Half Loves” to the Neil Simon comedy “The Sunshine Boys”. The original Broadway production of "The Sunshine Boys" by Neil Simon opened at the Broadhurst Theater in New York on December 20, 1972, ran for 538 performances and was nominated for the 1973 Tony Award (New York City) for the Best Play. The play focuses on aging Al Lewis and Willy Clark, a one-time vaudevillian team known as "Lewis and Clark" who, over the course of forty-odd years, not only grew to hate each other but never spoke to each other off-stage throughout the final year of their act. The stubborn Clark, who was not ready for retirement, resented the wiser Lewis for breaking up the act when he opted to leave show business. It is now 1972 and CBS is inviting the team to reunite for a special on the history of comedy, with the pair representing the vaudeville era at its best. Clark is convinced by his nephew Ben, who is also his agent, to revive one of the old routines one last time. Much of the humor is derived from efforts to get the two cantankerous actors into the same room for a rehearsal, their differences of opinion once they reunite, and their shenanigans on the actual broadcast.
In the TBT production, Willie Clark is played by Arnie Derrickson and Al Lewis by Doug Fehler. You’ll remember the wonderful job Derrickson and Fehler did playing against each other in last Season’s “God’s Favorite”. Rounding out the strong male lead cast, Mike Mabry plays the long-suffering nephew/agent Ben Silverman. Supporting roles are played by Michelle Reeves, Debbie Payne, and Walt Lewis. Directing the play is Linda Lowrance, with Jan Derrickson as Asst. Director. Peggy Mabry, Walt Lewis, Jean Lewis and Garrick Payne comprise the backstage crew, while Steve Schmidt handles lights and sound.
“The Sunshine Boys” opens with a 7 pm dinner theatre on February 20th, followed by a 2 pm matinee on Feb. 21st. The show continues with a luncheon matinee on Sunday, Feb. 28th. Dinner theatre performance tickets are $30 each, while regular performance tickets are $10 each. Luncheon tickets ($20) include the performance, and tickets ($10) are available for the matinee without attending the luncheon. Luncheon will be available from 12:00 – 1 pm, followed by a 2 pm performance. Reservations will have to be made through the TBT office (675-2278).
The final performances of this show were scheduled for March 5th & 6th, but the dates have been changed to 7 pm Friday March 12th, and a closing dinner theatre performance at 7 pm on Sat. March 13th. Those who have already made reservations for March 5th or 6th will be moved to March 12th & 13th, unless you contact the TBT Box Office (675-2278) to attend a different performance.
The February 27th performance has been cancelled.