SUNSET OPENS THE 2007-2008 SEASON WITH A MILWAUKEE AREA PREMIERE!
Preview: September 6, 2007 * Opens: September 7, 2007 * Closes: September 29, 2007
Elm Grove - It’s time to get a new look at one of Neil Simon’s most popular plays featuring the feuding friends Oscar Madison and Felix Unger. Except, it’s not “The Odd Couple,” but rather Simon’s own update of the comedy classic, called “Oscar and Felix: A New Look at THE ODD COUPLE,” premiering at Sunset Playhouse in Elm Grove on September 7 through the 29th.
Simon rewrote the Tony Award-winning tale of Oscar and Felix by keeping the plot the same but putting the two opposing divorced men in the 21st century instead of the original 1960s setting. Sunset is proud to start the new season with this area premiere before the play has even reached Broadway! From their original 1965 Broadway debut, to the various movies and television series from 1968 to 1998, the antics of hopeless slob Oscar and anal neat-freak Felix have been entertaining people for decades. The original play was last revived on Broadway in the 2005-2006 season featuring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick.
Brian D. Zelinski will guest direct “Oscar and Felix.” This will mark his debut in the director’s chair at Sunset though he is no stranger as an actor and has also received critical praise for his directing work elsewhere. Zelinski even acted in the “The Odd Couple” when it was produced at Sunset years back.
Zelinski has put together a cast of regulars, “long-time-no-sees,” and a few newbies to the Sunset stage. Rick Anderson will play Oscar to Glenn Villa’s Felix. The resident gang of poker players is comprised of Scott Bahr, James Jonas, Gene Schuldt, and Richard Townsend. What were originally the Pigeon Sisters in 1965 have now changed into the Costazuela Sisters, played by Mary C. DeBattista and Kelly DeFort-Pierce.
Resident Scenic Designer J. Michael Desper has designed and will build with the help of volunteers the New York apartment set. Artistic Director Mark Salentine will light the show instead of handling his usual directing duties. New guest costume designer Sue Fromm will get assistance from long-term volunteer costumer Pat Boeck. Props are headed up by Mary Krauss. Mariah Schmidt returns to Sunset as stage manager after handling “Is There Life After High School?” in the summer of ’06, and sound design will fall into the capable hands of ever-present Jan Pritzl.
Oscar and Felix runs September 7th through 29th, 2007. Tickets for Oscar and Felix are $18.00. Group rates for 15 or more people are available.
For more information or to order tickets by telephone, call the Box Office at (262) 782-4430. Box Office hours are Monday through Friday 12:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. and Saturdays 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
TICKETS ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE!