LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE is thrilled to announce
Legendary Comedian PAUL RODRIGUEZ
will join previously announced RITA RUDNER
in a Hilarious Revival of the Classic
BAREFOOT IN THE PARK
Written by NEIL SIMON
Directed by MICHAEL MATTHEWS
Limited Engagement Begins Wednesday, February 26
at the Laguna Playhouse in Laguna Beach!
Laguna Playhouse Artistic Director Ann E. Wareham and Executive Director Ellen Richard are thrilled to announce that two comic legends, RITA RUDNER and PAUL RODRIGUEZ will star in the hilarious and heartfelt comedy, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, written by Neil Simon and directed by Michael Matthews. Comments Artistic Director Ann E. Wareham and Executive Director Ellen Richard, “To have not one, but two comedy icons sharing our stage in the upcoming revival of Neil Simon’s classic comedy certainly makes this one of the theatrical events of the new year! Our subscribers and audiences are in for such a treat with this fresh look at the story of a free-spirited young woman and her much less spirited husband.” BAREFOOT IN THE PARK begins previews on Wednesday, February 26; will open on Sunday, March 1 at 5:30pm and runs through Sunday, March 22, 2019 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.
Comedy legends Rita Rudner and Paul Rodriguez star in this Neil Simon classic! Paul and Corie Bratter are newlyweds in every sense of the word. Fresh off a honeymoon at the Plaza Hotel, free-spirited Corie and her buttoned-down husband Paul find themselves struggling to adjust to married life in their too expensive, run-down New York walk-up.
Throw in a loopy meddling mother, an eccentric Bohemian upstairs neighbor, and a double date that goes disastrously wrong, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for laughter! Director Michael Matthews (Twelve Angry Men, The Graduate) returns to direct this hilarious new look at this “bubbling, rib-tickling comedy” (The New York Times).
Photo Credit: Laguna Playhouse
RITA RUDNER (Mrs. Ethel Banks) has performed over 2,000 solo shows in Las Vegas since the MGM Corporation built a theatre for her in 2002. She was named Las Vegas “Comedian Of The Year” nine years in a row, in 2006 received The Nevada Ballet’s Woman Of The Year Award and in 2017 received a Casino Entertainment Legend Award. Rita’s first solo HBO special, “Rita Rudner’s One Night Stand,” was nominated for several awards, as was her eponymous English BBC television show that later appeared in the USA on A&E. Rudner’s two one-hour specials for HBO, “Born to Be Mild” and “Married Without Children,” were ratings standout and in 2008 she starred in PBS’s first ever stand-up comedy special, “Rita Rudner: Live From Las Vegas.”
PAUL RODRIGUEZ (Victor Velasco) has been making audiences laugh all over the world (in Spanish and English) for over three decades with his unique brand of humor that is a perfect blend of his Latin heritage, the American dream and his undeniable universal appeal. As an actor and comedian, Paul Rodriguez’s multi-faceted career includes starring roles and featured appearances in over 45 films and countless television series and comedy specials.
Rodriguez has remained involved with various charitable, civic and educational organizations including the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and The Leukemia Society, to name a few. Additionally, as part owner of the world-famous Laugh Factory, Rodriguez has participated in the club’s annual free Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners for the underprivileged for over 30 years. Rodriguez was honored with the Humanitarian of the Year Award by the City of Fresno for his tireless work on behalf of water conservation. As Chairman of the California Latino Water Coalition, Rodriguez was one of the driving forces behind the California Water Bond Measure coming into fruition. For more information on Paul Rodriguez you can visit www.paulrodriguez.com.
BAREFOOT IN THE PARK begins previews on Wednesday, February 26; will open on Sunday, March 1 at 5:30pm and runs through Sunday, March 22, 2019 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.
Performances will be Wednesdays through Fridays at 7:30pm; Saturdays at 2pm & 7:30pm; Sundays at 1:00pm & 5:30pm. There will be added performances on Thursday, February 27 & Thursday, March 19 at 2pm & Tuesday, March 3 at 7:30pm. There will be no performance on Sunday, March 1 at 1pm.
There will be Talk-Backs following the performances on Saturday, March 7 at 2pm and Thursday, March 12 at 7:30pm.
Tickets range from $61 – $101 and can be purchased online at www.lagunaplayhouse.com or by calling (949) 497-ARTS (2787). Group discounts are available by calling 949-497-2787 ext. 229. Prices subject to change.
The box office is open Mondays – Saturdays: 11a.m. to 5 p.m. (open until showtime on performance days); Sundays: 11a.m. – 4p.m.
For more information on all shows and programming visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com. LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE is located at 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.
Founded in 1920, the historic Laguna Playhouse is one of the oldest continuously-operating not-for-profit theatres on the West Coast and is proud to be an active participant in the celebrated Laguna Beach arts community. From classic plays and musical comedies to the current off-Broadway smash, cutting edge and traditional music exhibitions, dance festivals and stand-up comedy performances, Laguna Playhouse brings the magical experience of the performing arts direct to over 80,000 patrons each season.
Laguna Playhouse educational programming includes year-round classes, productions by and for children and teens (Youth Theatre) and is one of the few companies in the region that offer a curriculum-based professional theatre-touring program, TheatreReach, which aligns with the California State Standards for literature, history and performing arts curriculum.
Laguna Playhouse has been recognized in 2017, 2016 and 2015 as one of Orange County Register’s “Best of OC” in the category of Live Theatre, and has been recognized by OC Hotlist in their “Best Theatre Group” winning first place in 2017 and 2016. The Laguna Playhouse has featured many talented performers on stage, including Ed Asner, Leslie Caron, Hershey Felder, Harrison Ford, Melanie Griffith, Val Kilmer, Gregory Harrison, Dan Lauria, Hal Linden, Wendie Malick, Rita Rudner, Charles Shaughnessy, French Stewart, Loretta Swit, and Bette Davis.
Learn What’s Going On at www.lagunaplayhouse.com.
