Past Dramatic Comedy:
Kentwood Players presents
Brighton Beach Memoirs

Brighton Beach Memoirs. by Neil Simon. Director Valerie Ruel. Producer Heather Barnett and Kathy Dershimer. July 10 – August 15, 2015

Brighton Beach Memoirs premiered on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre on March 27, 1983 and won a New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Play and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play. It is a semi-autobiographical play by Neil Simon, the first chapter in what is known as his Eugene trilogy, preceding Biloxi Blues and Broadway Bound, in which we meet Eugene Jerome and his family, fighting the hard times and sometimes each other with laughter, tears, and love. Fifteen-year-old Eugene Jerome lives in Brighton Beach with his family during the heart of the Depression in 1937. He is witty, perceptive, obsessed with sex, and forever fantasizing his baseball-diamond triumphs as star pitcher for the New York Yankees. As our guide through his “memoirs,” Eugene takes us through a series of trenchant observations and insights that show his family meeting life’s challenges with pride, spirit, and a marvelous sense of humor.

Character

CAST

Played by
Eugene Jerome ············ Matthew Van Oss
Blanche Morton ············ Veronica Alicino
Kate Jerome ············ Lori Kaye
Laurie Morton ············ Katie Rodriguez
Nora Morton ············ Laura Wiggins
Stanley Jerome ············ Louis Politan
Jacob “Jack” Jerome ············ Harold Dershimer

CAST PICTURES

Eugene has dreams of becoming a star pitcher for the New York Yankees.
Eugene shares his thoughts about Stanley’s unsettling news.
Negotiating a disagreement between sisters is always an impossible task.
Blanche uses an asthma attack to grab attention from her daughter Laurie and sister Kate.
Kate offers her best pearls to Blanche to wear out on a date.
Jack has a heart-to-heart chat with his son Stanley.
Stanley tries to reason with his brother Eugene.
Kate is shocked when her son Stanley cannot pay back the money he owes her.
Kate and Jack struggle to keep the Jerome family afloat during the Depression.
Eugene Jerome guides us through his memoirs growing up with his family in Brighton Beach during the Depression.
Eugene shares Chapter 7 of his memoirs: “The Infamous Family Dinner.”
Blanche models her new “date” dress.
Blanche finally speaks up for herself.
Brothers Eugene and Stanley share their dreams.
The cast of Brighton Beach Memoirs
Photos by Shari Barrett

KENTWOOD PLAYERS

Westchester Playhouse
8301 Hindry Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90045
(Click here for map)

310-645-5156
boxoffice@kentwoodplayers.org