The year is 1972 and Al Lewis and Willy Clark, two veteran vaudevillian comics, are not on speaking terms. After 40 years of being one of the most popular comedic teams around, they cut their ties and haven’t spoken to one another in 11 years. Enter CBS, who has offered to re-unite them on a national television special celebrating the greatest comics of the century. The Sunshine Boys is hailed as one of Neil Simon’s best comedies—it is currently running on Broadway starring Danny Devito, and just closed at the Guthrie in Minneapolis.
Sherman Community Players' production of The Sunshine Boys opens October 5 and runs through October 20. The opening night reception will be catered by all three downtown fine dining restaurants: Fulbelli’s, Lupe’s World Famous Tamales, and Little Italy.
“We are well underway with rehearsals, and having a blast with the great script by the very dependable Neil Simon," said director Anthony Nelson. "Twenty-Three people from the Texoma community came down to the Finley to audition and the cast was selected at the end of August. The selection process was extremely difficult, a lot of really talented people showed up.”
“Since the play is set in 1972, our costume designer Tina Ross, and I are having a real joy finding vintage fun period clothing," added Nelson. "Bell bottoms are the best.”
Cast for Neil Simon’s The Sunshine Boys
Willie Clark…………………………..Frank Sanza
Al Lewis………………………….…..Bruce Stidham
Ben Silverman……………………..…Jeffrey Hermann
Minnie Gentry (Nurse #2)……………Deborah Barrax
Vaudeville Sketch Nurse……………..Saundra Linscheid
Director of Sketch…………………….Ed Richardson
Eddie (Assistant Director of Sketch)…Shane Beck
Vaudeville Sketch Patient…………….Bruce Butler
Announcer…………………………….Jim Smith
Ensemble………………………………Isaac Scheibmeir
Production Crew
Director………………………………..Anthony Nelson
Stage Manager(s)……………………...Marty Burkhart
Tom Rawson
Costume Designer…………………….Tina Ross
Assistant Costume Designer…………..Donna Champion House
Sound Designer………………………..Jim Barnes
