As the final production in its 2019 Subscription Season, Catskill’s Bridge Street Theatre presents a real American classic – Frank D. Gilroy’s heartwarming 1965 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama THE SUBJECT WAS ROSES, coming to the theatre’s Mainstage for eight performances from Oct. 17-27.
When 20-year-old Timmy Cleary returns from service in World War II, he finds himself in the middle of another war at home. His mother and father, trapped in a troubled marriage, each try to enlist Timmy in their ongoing battle against one another. Small acts of kindness and cruelty take on huge implications in this quietly devastating comedy-drama of familial conflict – and love.
Premiering on Broadway in May of 1964 with a producer who had never produced a Broadway play, a director who had never directed one, a scenic artist who had never designed one, a general manager who had never managed one, and three actors – Jack Albertson, Irene Dailey and Martin Sheen – who were virtually unknown, the play turned out to be a major critical and commercial success, running for 832 performances and winning not only the Pulitzer Prize for drama, but also the Tony and New York Drama Critics Circle Awards as the Best Play of 1965.
A successful film version followed in 1968, with both Albertson and Sheen re-creating their roles (Albertson received an Oscar for “Best Supporting Actor” for his performance) and Patricia Neal, making her return to the screen in the role of the mother following a debilitating stroke.
Bridge Street Theatre’s production will be directed by Flo Hayle and features actors Lora Lee Ecobelli as Nettie Cleary, Ron Komora as her husband John, and Caleb John Cushing as their son, Timmy, with sets and lighting designed by Bridge Street Artistic Director John Sowle, costumes by Michelle Rogers, and sound by Carmen Borgia. The production stage manager is Joshua Martin.
From Oct. 17-27, THE SUBJECT WAS ROSES plays Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. on the Bridge Street Theatre Mainstage, 44 West Bridge St., in Catskill, N.Y., just a block and a half west of Main Street across the Uncle Sam Bridge, which spans Catskill Creek.
Eight performances only. General Admission is $25; students 21 and younger get in for $10. Discounted advance tickets are available at subject.brownpapertickets.com or by calling 800-838-3006. Tickets also will be sold at the door one-half hour before each performance on a space-available basis. “Pay What You Will” performances will be on Thursday evening, Oct. 17, and Sunday afternoon, Oct. 20 (“Pay What You Will” tickets are available only at the door one-half hour prior to those performances).
For more information, visit the theater online at bridgest.org/the-subject-was-roses/. Don’t pass up the chance to experience this rarely produced jewel of American drama.
Events at Bridge Street Theatre are supported in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and by Public Funds from the Greene County Legislature through the Cultural Fund administered in Greene County by the Greene County Council on the Arts.
Performance Calendar:
Bridge Street Theatre presents
THE SUBJECT WAS ROSES
by Frank D. Gilroy
with Lora Lee Ecobelli*, Ron Komora*, and Caleb John Cushing
Directed by Flo Hayle
Sets and Lighting by John Sowle
Costumes by Michelle Rogers
Sound by Carmen Borgia
Production Stage Manager: Joshua Martin
Oct. 17-27, 2019
Bridge Street Theatre Mainstage
44 West Bridge St., Catskill, NY
Thursday October 17 @ 7:30pm (“Pay What You Will” preview)
Friday October 18 @ 7:30pm (Opening Night, with reception to follow)
Saturday October 19 @ 7:30pm
Sunday October 20 @ 2:00pm (“Pay What You Will” performance)
Thursday October 24 @ 7:30pm
Friday October 25 @ 7:30pm
Saturday October 26 @ 7:30pm
Sunday October 27 @ 2:00pm (Closing performance)
Tickets:
Advance tickets available at http://subject.brownpapertickets.com or by calling 800-838-3006.
General Admission $22 in advance; $10 for students 21 and younger. Tickets also can be purchased at the door prior to each performance (on a space-available basis) for $25, $10 for students 21 & under.
“Pay What You Will” tickets are available only on the day of performance and go on sale at the door one-half hour before curtain time.
