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Ohio University Eastern presents ‘The Nerd’
The Theater Department of Ohio University Eastern Campus will present Larry Shue’s hilarious comedy “The Nerd” May 19, 20, 21, 26 and 27. Thursday performances begin at 7pm and Friday and Saturday performances begin at 8pm.
“The Nerd” was first performed by the Milwaukee Repertory Theater in 1981. Since then it has been performed on Broadway and it has become a favorite of college and community theaters around the country. Many theater aficionados consider “The Nerd” to be one of the funniest modern comedies ever written.
The action of the play begins when young architect Willum Cubbert gets a surprise visit from Rick Steadman, the man who saved his life in Vietnam. The two have never met, but they form a strong bond immediately—unfortunately their feelings are not shared mutually. To Willum’s dismay, Rick turns out to be the most obnoxious, socially inept man on the planet. As Willum’s life dissolves into chaos, his friends, Axel and Tansy, concoct a bizarre series of hysterically funny tricks to try to convince Rick to leave. Their outrageous attempts and a terrific surprise ending make for an evening of side-splitting comedy. Variety describes “The Nerd”, “…the audience almost never stops laughing—handkerchiefs wiping away tears of merriment.”
The Nerd is the final production of the Ohio University Eastern Campus Theater’s 2010—2011 season. Theater Director Dennis Fox likes to end the season with a comedy, “ Spring is a challenging time for local theaters. Everyone is spending more time out of doors, so it takes something really outstanding to bring an audience in on a lovely spring evening.”
Fox has assembled a talented and experienced cast. Playing Willum Cubbert is Cody Kramer of Martins Ferry. Kramer was last seen as Officer O’Hara in “Arsenic and Old Lace.” Patricia Lynn, of Martins Ferry, has the role of Tansy McGinnis and she was last seen in “Arsenic and Old Lace” as Officer Klein. Cast as Axel Hammond is Raymond Blake Unterzuber of St. Clairsville. Unterzuber is a junior at Ohio University Eastern Campus and was last in as Mr. Witherspoon in “Arsenic and Old Lace.” In the role of Warnock Waldgrave is Weirton, West Virginia native Rich Ivaun. Ivaun is well-known to area theater audiences and was last seen on the Eastern Campus stage as Ivan in “Art.” Eastern Campus senior Michelle Taylor plays Clelia Waldgrave. Taylor is from Cadiz and was last seen as Claire-June in “Snow Leopards.” Nine-year-old Jett A. Thomas is cast as Thor Waldgrave. Thomas lives in Triadelphia, West Virginia and this is his first appearance on the Ohio University Eastern stage. Playing Rick Steadman is Ohio University senior Michael Loccisano of Powhatan Point; Loccisano is making his Eastern Campus stage debut.
Ohio University Eastern Campus Theater will present “The Nerd” May 19, 20, 21, 26 and 27 at 7pm on Thursday evenings and at 8pm on Friday and Saturday evenings in the Shannon Hall Theater. Thursday evenings all tickets are $4; Friday and Saturday evenings General Admission tickets are $6 and Student and Senior Discount tickets are $4. Thursday, May 26 is Talk-Back Night when the audience is invited to meet and chat with the cast and crew immediately following the performance. For more information or to make reservations contact Dennis Fox at 740-699-2340.
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