THE FULL MONTY Opens at Stoneham Theatre, 4/12

THE-FULL-MONTY-Opens-at-Stoneham-Theatre-412-20010101

The 12th season at Stoneham Theatre continues withThe Full Monty, the raucous and cheeky musical about down-and-out mill workers who hit upon an unusual way to "do something" about improving their professional and personal lives. The show opens on April 12 and runs through May 6.

Based on the book by Terrence McNally with music and lyrics by David Yazbek, the play is adapted from the smash 1997 British film and set in Buffalo, New York. Directed by Caitlyn Lowans, Stoneham Theatre's Director of Education, the show also has an almost exclusively female production team overseeing the six unemployed men whose search for money and fulfillment leads them to new jobs as ecdysiasts. The guys emulate Chippendale Dancers and perform for cheering audiences of women who urge them to outdo the Chippendales and go "the full monty" in their striptease act.

"This show is really a serious one, a love story," remarked Lowans at the commencement of rehearsals. "It's not love of the romantic kind that we're used to on the stage. Rather, it dramatizes the love between a father and his son, as well as a mature sort of love that starts out as one thing and ends up as something else."

While the show is a comedy, it touches on a number of serious issues that are top-of-mind for many people in today's society and economy: unemployment, divorce, fathers' rights, depression, suicide, impotence, homosexuality, and the working-class culture.

"If the show were being performed on Broadway, it would be for an audience who's coming to see how the other half lives. But here at Stoneham, our audience will see themselves reflected on stage. Their issues are our issues; we know how they feel and what they think. There's a feeling of 'we're all in this together," said Lowans.

Cast:

Dave Bukatinski: Corey Jackson; Nathan Lukowski: Colin Breslin; Horse Simmons: David L. Jiles, Jr.*; Harold Nichols/Gary Bonasorte: Steve Gagliastro*; Ethan Girard: Andrew Oberstein; Teddy Slaughter: Dan Roach*; Jerry Lukowski: Michael Timothy Howell*; Buddy Walsh: David Costa; Georgie Bukatinski: Danielle Perry*; Jeannette Burmeister/Molly MacGregor: Margaret Ann Brady*; Pam Lukowski: Ilyse Robbins; Susan Hershey: Shonna McEachern; Estelle Genovese: Michelle A. DeLuca; Joanie Lish: Darcie Champagne; Vicki Nichols: Amy Barker*; Reg Willoughby: Matt Spano; Malcolm MacGregor: Nick Sulfaro.

Director: Caitlin Lowans

Choreographer: IIyse Robbins

Costume Designer: Gail Buckley**

Stage Manager: Lauria Kincade

Prop Master: Georgia Keyes

Sound designer: John Stone

Scenic and Lighting Designer: Chris Ostrom*

*denotes member of Actor's Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers.

**denotes member of IATSE/USA

Tickets:

$48 for Premium Seating with $42 for seniors and $20 for students. Standard Seating tickets are $44 with $40 for seniors and $20 for students.

Student ID required.