Here's the Cast of Bleacher Bums
...and now... the starting lineup!
Summer Place is pleased to announce the opening lineup, er, cast of Bleacer Bums, a nine-inning comedy opening June 8 at the Naperville Central HS Auditorium.
Melody, the attractive, serious bleacher sun-bather, will be played by Elizabeth Thompson from Elmhurst. Trained in theatre from Elmhurst College, she's been seen in many plays around the area: Wheaton, Riverfront, and Greenman among them.
Greg, a savvy, funny, gentle man in his 20's, blind from birth, will be played by Dan Byrne-Szafoni, a savvy, funny actor from Oak Lawn who's last been seen in Morraine Valley Community College's Hand to God and is a member of the Sweater Friendz Improv Group.
Zig, the cigar-chewing loveable loudmouth will be played by Gary Tuber of Hoffman Estates. Not new to the stage, Gary's presented for years in the sales world, and now putting that talent toward theatre, just killing it at the audition!
Decker, the successful everyman, originally played by the play's author Joe Montegna, will be played by Tom Ochocinski of Plainfield, a longtime community theatre performer. He most recently was in Monstrous Regiment, just completing its run.
Richie, the ever trying to fit in nerd, is played by Ben Slabik. You may have seen him recently in The Miss Firecracker Contest at the Village Theatre Guild, and you may have seen him as Leo Bloo of The Producers at Wheaton Drama. We look forward to his Summer Place debut.
Marvin, the gambler, will be played by Mike Duffy of Westmont. A Penny Dreadful Player while at U of I, he's lately been coaching high schoolers in speech and acting, but happy to get back on stage.
The 20-something cheerleader role is being re-envisioned as a seasoned Cubs Super Fan! And it's being played by Highland Park's Rick March, a big cubs fan appearing in many local film and theatre roles in Chicagoland.
Rose, Zig's wife and closet Cub fan, is played by Kelli Montgomery of Chicago, reprising the role she played last year in Pontiac, Illinois. Kelli is an extra on the Chicago Fire and PD television shows, and soon you'll see her on our stage.
You won't see him, but Summer Place President Don Gingold will be moving the game along as the announcer. Don's been in many SPT productions in recent years and is a voice actor which makes the role right up his alley.
Tickets for the game, er, show are available online here, or by calling the box office request mailbox at 355-7969.