Let's return to the 1960s, an era where we were free to choose who we wanted to love and when. But in this world filled with "Mad Men" and "Mod Women," was it easier to choose a mate? In this all-new production of Neil Simon's Last of the Red Hot Lovers, true comedy ensues when a man looks for something new and different, but ends up finding himself in the same situation, again and again! It's the revolution of a laugh-time and we've got the woman to prove it!
Last of the Red Hot Lovers premiered on Broadway in 1969 at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre. The production ran through 1971 and earned three Tony Awards nominations. Following its Broadway run, the show was adapted into a film, starring Alan Arkin, in 1972.
American
playwright Neil Simon has been recognized with many awards for his work,
including the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, multiple Tony Awards, Emmy Awards,
Evening Standard Award, Writers Guild of America Awards, Outer Critics Award,
Golden Globe Award, Drama Desk Award and the Mark Twain Prize. He is also a
Kennedy Center Honoree and an inductee into the American Theatre Hall of Fame. The
Alvin Theatre on Broadway was renamed Neil Simon Theatre in 1983. He has written over
30 plays and is considered to be one of the most successful playwrights in the
world. His work for the stage includes Come Blow Your Horn; Little
Me; Barefoot in the Park; The Odd Couple; Sweet Charity; The Star-Spangled
Girl; Plaza Suite; Promises, Promises; The Gingerbread Lady; The Prisoner of
Second Avenue; The Sunshine Boys; Brighton Beach Memoirs; Biloxi Blues; The Odd
Couple; Broadway Bound; Rumors; Lost in Yonkers; The Goodbye Girl, many of which the Walnut has
produced. The Walnut produced the world
premiere of Simon’s Hotel Suite in 1999. Additionally, Simon has
authored books, written films, teleplays and motion pictures for television.
Director Adam Immerwahr makes his Walnut debut with this production. Immerwahr is the Artistic Director of Theater J, in Washington D.C. and has served as Associate Artistic Director at McCarter Theatre and Resident Director at Passage Theater. His directing credits include The Public, Theater Row, Ensemble Studio Theatre, The Wild Project, McCarter, Theater J, Woolly Mammoth, Luna Stage, Hangar Theatre, Bristol Riverside and NYU’s Studio Tisch. Internationally, he directed the African premiere of The Convert, which was nominated for the National Arts Medal Award.
Two Walnut veterans will take the stage in this hilarious play. Fran Prisco returns, having just appeared in The Wizard of Oz. He is a Philadelphia native who has performed at the Walnut in over 25 productions. He has been seen on the Theatre’s Mainstage in shows including South Pacific, Sister Act and Harvey and in the Independence Studio on 3 in I Love You, You’re Perfect Now Change and A Grand Night for Singing. Karen Peakes returns to the Walnut having appeared in Doubt, Speaking in Tongues, Born Yesterday, Fallen Angels and Of Mice and Men. Both actors have performed on many of Philadelphia’s regional stages and are proud members of the local theatre community.
The action takes place in a 1960s New York apartment designed by set designer John Hoey, who will also provide the lighting design. Joining Hoey is sound designer John Kolbinski (A Child’s Christmas in Wales, Always… Patsy Cline) and costume designer Mark Mariani (Harvey, Laughter on the 23rd Floor).
Last of the Red Hot Lovers will become the seventh production to embark on a tour across the country. The first six national tours of Walnut Street Theatre productions, featuring Philadelphia artists, have included The Glass Menagerie, Proof, Around the World in 80 Day, Driving Miss Daisy, A Life in the Theatre and A Moon for the Misbegotten. The Walnut celebrates Philadelphia’s finest talents and is proud to share them with America. For more information about Walnut Street Theatre national tours, visit WalnutStreetTheatre.org.
Season sponsor for the 2016-2017 Independence Studio on 3 Season is The Independence Foundation. Media season sponsors are Philly Weekly and WRTI Radio. Tickets are $30-$35 and are now available at 215-574-3550 or 800-982-2787. Tickets are also available at walnutstreettheatre.org or Ticketmaster.com.