For Immediate Release: September 18, 2009
Contact: Annette Barnette
Public Relations & Marketing Director
Glenville State College
Glenville, WV
(304) 462-4115
Glenville, WV – The first theatre production of the new school year at Glenville State College will be the classic Neil Simon comedy ‘Brighton Beach Memoirs’. Performances will take place September 24, 25, and 26 in the GSC Administration Building Presidents Auditorium at 7:00 p.m. each night.
“The play presents a snapshot of life in an earlier time, and goes to show that no matter how complicated things seem today, the human experience of living in a family is universal,” explains GSC Theatre Director and GSC Professor of Communications Dennis Wemm.
The story is set in the Brighton Beach section of Brooklyn, New York in 1937. The coming-of-age comedy follows the life of Eugene Jerome, a young teenage Jewish boy, recalling his memoirs of his time as an adolescent youth. He lives with his parents Kate and Jack, his aunt Blanche, his two cousins Nora and Laurie, and his brother Stanley, whom he looks up to and admires. He goes through the hardships of puberty, sexual fantasy, and living the life of a poor boy in a crowded house.
Searching for his identity, Eugene is being played by GSC Theatre newcomer Justin Blankenship, a freshman Education major from Gassaway in Braxton County who has been seen on stage from an early age at the Landmark Studio and Braxton County High School. The tart mother Kate is being played by GSC Theatre newcomer Jamie Stanley, a sophomore English major from Point Pleasant in Mason County. The nice father Jack is being played by GSC Theatre newcomer Dr. Gary Morris, a Glenville State College Professor of Biology from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Also being seen on stage is the dependent Aunt Blanche being played by six-year GSC Theatre regular Whitney Stalnaker, a junior Psychology/Sociology major from Normantown in Gilmer County. Cousin and dancer Nora is being played by GSC Theatre newcomer Rebekah Boyles, a freshman English major from Spencer in Roane County. Helpless cousin Laurie is being played by five-show GSC Theatre veteran Ryan Konarske from Gandeeville in Roane County. The responsible brother Stanley is being played by GSC Theatre regular Justin Church, an Elementary Education major from Clay in Clay County.
The public is invited to be introduced to Eugene Jerome and his family as they fight the hard times and sometimes each other. GSC students are admitted free, and general admission is $3.00. Due to language and mature content, this production is not suited for young children.
For more information, contact Communications Professor Dennis Wemm at Dennis.Wemm@glenville.edu or call (304)462-6323.
