Trending
WHEELING -- Oglebay Institutes' Towngate Theatre in Wheeling continues its 2023-34 season with Neil Simon's engaging, sensitive comedy "Biloxi Blues."
The shows takes place for two weekends -- this weekend, Friday through Sunday, Nov. 3, 4 and 5, and next weekend, Nov. 10 and 11.
Part of Neil Simon's Eugene trilogy, "Biloxi Blues" centers on the experiences of a young army recruit, Eugene Morris Jerome, during World War II.
At basic training in Biloxi, Mississippi, Eugene is determined to use his army experiences to help his writing career and keeps detailed memoirs about his experiences. Eugene and his fellow soldiers-in-training suffer under a hard-nosed drill sergeant, Merwin J. Toomey; attempt to stomach the terrible army food served up in the mess hall; and bond over an adventure to visit the local prostitute.
Along the way, Eugene is forced to learn about authority, danger, sex, assimilation, bigotry, homosexuality and love. In the process, he discovers that life can be both ugly and tender.
This semi-autobiographical comedy has been termed by Frank Rich, "Mr. Simon's first serious attempt to examine his conscience as an artist and a Jew."
P.D. Gregg directs a cast that included Nate Foster, Hayden Heiserman, Issac Perry, Joel Nau, Juan Dunlap, Ralph Parissi, Brian Jefferies, Maura Reiff and Grace Thompson.
Curtain for Towngate's production of "Biloxi Blues" is at 8 p.m. on Nov. 3, 4, 10, and 11 and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 5.
This production is presented with support from Towngate's season sponsor Unified Bank and with additional support from Clare E. McDonald and Robert J. Gaudio.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.oionline.com or call 304-242-7700.
Tickets can also be purchased at the door, if available.
The box office opens one hour prior to curtain.