BTE Opens 30th Season This Week With America’s Greatest Comedy

BTE’s 30th Season is off to an explosively funny start with You Can’t Take It with You, America’s greatest comedy. Hart & Kaufman’s Pulitzer Prize winning laughfest plays at BTE’s Alvina Krause Theatre in downtown Bloomsburg from October 11 until November 4. Tickets and information are available online at www.bte.org, by calling the BTE Box Office at (570) 784-8181, or toll free at (800) 282-0283.

BTE opened the renovated Alvina Krause Theatre in 1983 with this play and is pleased to revisit the wacky Sycamore house in a co-production with Bloomsburg University’s Bloomsburg Players. The cast is a mixture of seasoned professionals and fresh young student actors who are in the process of learning their craft.

Ensemble member Elizabeth Dowd remarks, “Somehow it seems the perfect nod to those young actors who first produced this play 25 years ago in this very theatre – four of whom are in this production, no longer in need of age make-up!”

The Sycamore house is alive and well in 1936 - Penny Sycamore, the matriarch, is working (again) on her war play, daughter Essie is getting a dance lesson, Donald (the maid’s boyfriend) is playing the accordion and Martin Vanderhof, also known as Grandpa, hasn’t paid the income tax for twenty-two years. Penny’s other daughter Alice Sycamore has fallen in love with her boss’ son, Tony Kirby, who comes from a distinctly upper-crust family. Her own family, although loving and wonderful, is also wonderfully eccentric. Worry about their compatibility explodes on the day the Kirbys arrive for dinner – on the wrong night! The film adaptation of You Can’t Take with You, starring Jimmy Stewart, won the Academy Award in 1938.

You Can’t Take It With You is sponsored by the Bloomsburg University’s Community Government Association, the Pine Barn Inn, and WHLM. The Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble’s 30th season is sponsored by the Press Enterprise and WNEP.

Ensemble members Elizabeth Dowd and Gerard Stropnicky play Penny and Paul Sycamore. The iceman, Mr. DePinna, who came in to speak to Paul and never left is played by Ensemble member Andrew Hubatsek, while the Russian dance instructor Boris Kolenkhov is portrayed by Ensemble member Daniel Roth. Cassandra Pisieczko owns the role of Alice Sycamore, the most “normal” family member. Equity actor Geddeth Smith and Ensemble member James Goode share the role as the family’s patriarch, Martin Vanderhof, more often known as Grandpa. Laurie McCants lends her hand as Mrs. Kirby, the mother of Alice’s boyfriend. Guest artists Katherine Nora LeRoy and Buddy Woodson join the cast as Rheba, the Sycamore’s maid and cook, and Donald, Rheba’s boyfriend.

The Ensemble cast is complemented by many members of the Bloomsburg University Players. Lauren Burke and Asude Yucel share the role of Essie Carmichael, candy-maker and ballerina. Essie is married to a xylophone player who is an amateur printer, played alternately by Dan Acor and Joseph Popson. The IRS agent who comes to investigate Grandpa’s tax evasion is played by Phillip Thomas Haberek and Aaron Roberge. The object of Alice’s affections, Tony Kirby, is played by Matthew Bayer. Penny Sycamore’s new actress friend, Gay Wellington, is portrayed by Liz Nowery and Megan Walsh. Cam Richards alternates the role of Mr. Kirby with Ensemble member James Goode. The Grand Duchess Olga Katrina is played by Kymberly Dennis and Kate L. Hughes. Rounding out the cast of unforgettable characters are the FBI agents, played by Dion Crommartz, Nicholas Foust, Jeremiah Getkin, Greg Hoagland and Michelle Kelchner.

Directing the orchestrated chaos in the Sycamore house is Bloomsburg University professor Michael Collins. Set design is by Bruce Candlish, costume design by Karen Anselm and props design by Ethan Krupp, all faculty members of Bloomsburg University. The lighting design is by BTE Affiliated Artist Jamie Kurtz. MaryAgnes Brown, a Bloomsburg University alumnus, is the Production Stage Manager, and Bloomsburg University sophomore Katherine Wennell is the stage manager.

Tickets for You Can’t Take It With You are $23, with a senior ticket price of $15 and a student/child price of $10. Bloomsburg University students with valid ID get in free. The price for the October 11 and 12 previews at 7pm is $10. The show runs until November 4, with show times of Thursdays at 7pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 3pm. Tickets can be ordered online at www.bte.org, by calling our Box Office at (570) 784-8181, or toll free at (800) 282-0283.

There is a Pay What You Wish Night on Thursday, October 11 at 7pm. Patrons arriving at 6:30pm may choose their own ticket price. Discount does not apply to previously purchased tickets or advance orders.

BTE is celebrating 30 years of professional theatre with a formal Gala on October 20. Hors d’oeuvres and dinner provided by the Pine Barn Inn will be served at the Caldwell Consistory beginning at 5pm. The play will be followed by dessert and dancing to jazz trio Burgess, Mitchell and Seal back at the Consistory. For more details, please call the Box Office.

The 2007-2008 season celebrates the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble’s 30th year of exciting, professional theatre to Pennsylvania’s Northeast and beyond. To find out more about BTE, its educational programs and the current season, please visit the website at www.bte.org or call the administrative offices at (570) 784-5530.

Calendar Listing:

• Thursday, October 11 7:00pm Preview; Pay What You Wish Night
• Friday, October 12 7:00pm Preview
• Saturday, October 13 8:00pm Opening Night
• Sunday, October 14 3:00pm
• Thursday, October 18 7:00pm
• Friday, October 19 8:00pm Talkback Night
• Saturday, October 20 8:00pm 30th Season Gala
• Sunday, October 21 3:00pm
• Thursday, October 25 7:00pm
• Friday, October 26 8:00pm Talkback Night
• Saturday, October 27 8:00pm
• Sunday, October 28 3:00pm
• Thursday, November 1 7:00pm
• Friday, November 2 8:00pm Talkback Night
• Saturday, November 3 8:00pm
• Sunday, November 4 3:00pm