Brighton Beach Memoirs Coming to Sault Saint Marie, Michigan

Take a stroll down memory lane as Neil Simon's looks back into his own past. Brighton Beach Memoirs is being produced by the Chippewa Theater Guild, formerly known as the Sault Community Theater, and will be performed at their theater on Eureka Street in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan for seven performances. The humor and wit of Neil Simon is present throughout this script as he takes an autobiographical look at himself and his adolescence. This will make for an evening of fun and laughter for everyone.

"I love this show and I am really anxious to share it with the Soo area public. I have some real talented actors and I know they are going to do a great performance. The detailed and delicate humor of Neil Simon has definitely been discovered with this cast and it's a joy to rehearse with them every evening," says Director James Taylor.

Considered the first in Neil Simon's "Eugene Trilogy," it is set in the Brighton Beach section of New York, in 1937. This coming of age comedy focuses on Eugene Morris Jerome , a Polish-Jewish teenager who experiences puberty, a sexual awakening, and a search for identity as he tries to deal with his family, including his older brother Stanley, his parents Kate and Jack, as well as Kate's sister Blanche and her two daughters Nora and Laurie.

Brighton Beach Memoirs has won seven awards. Three of which was Broadway's most coveted award the Tony. It has also garnered the New York Drama Critics Circle award and two Drama Desk awards. Plays don't come with higher recommendations than this one.

The cast for this delightful performance begins with Adam Graber who plays the lead role of Eugene, is a 9th grader at Rudyard High school. He was in their middle school productions and was also in the musical "The Boyfriend". He is on the cross country team, the swim team and plays French Horn in the band.

Sam Burdick plays Stanley and is an 11th grader from Brimley who is home schooled. He has performed in the Academy of Performing Arts yearly productions of Peter Pan, Aladdin, Send in the Clowns and Fern Gully. He has also been in South Pacific and Oliver at the Soo Theatre Project. He was most recently seen in the Chippewa Theater Guild's production of Anne of Green Gables in the role of Charlie Sloan.

Emma Harrington, playing, Laurie, is a 9th grader at Sault Area High School. She shared the role of Mary Jo last summer in the Guild's production of Anne of Green Gables. She was most recently played the role of Anushka in the Guild's Christmas production of the Snow Child. She also enjoys playing softball.

Lindsey McCullough performs the role of Nora and is a freshman at LSSU majoring in Liberal Arts. She was in Snow White, Peter Pan, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin with the Academy of Performing Arts. She also performed in Hansel and Gretel and Annie with the Soo Theatre Project. She was most recently seen in the lead role of Anne in the Guild's production of Anne of Green Gables. She has won three vocal district solo ensemble awards. She also enjoys performing at the yearly Madrigal fundraiser for Hospice.

Jaelinn Soeltner portrays Blanche and is a senior at Pickford High School. She has been involved with theatre for several years. Most recently, she performed in Oliver with the Soo Theatre Project and played the roles of Sister Mary Leo in Nunsense and Ruby Gillis in Anne of Green Gables with the Guild.

John Gilbert performs the role of Jack and is a member of the board of directors for the Guild. He is also the technical director for the theatre. He has been the stage manager for the Guild productions of Educating Rita and Anne of Green Gables. He portrayed the lead role of Elwood P. Dowd in the Guild's production of Harvey. He most recently was seen on stage in three supporting roles in Anne of Green Gables.

Alicia Askwith plays Kate and is a recent addition to the board of directors for the Guild as the secretary. She is employed as the Assistant City Engineer. She was most recently seen in the role of Myrtle Mae in the Guild's production of Harvey.

"Each actor brings their own sense of awareness and enthusiasm to the pages of this script. Chrissy Johnson, our stage manager, is a godsend to the Chippewa Theater Guild. She brings a level of professionalism that would be hard to beat in any theatre group and we are fortunate to have her," continues Taylor.

This is a show that can't be missed. Show times are January 28^th-30^th at 7:30 pm and 31^st at 2:00 pm. Performances are located at the Guild Theater, 700 Eureka St. in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. Ticket prices are $12.00 for adults, $10.00 for seniors and $8.00 for students. Tickets are available at the door or call Colleen at 906-632-7090 for reservations. The box office opens at 7:00 pm for nighttime performances and 1:30 pm for matinee performances. Please visit our website at www.chippewatheaterguild.com for further details.