Gulfshore Playhouse presents Barefoot in the Park

Gulfshore Playhouse presents Barefoot in the Park March 25 through April 16 at the Norris Center in Naples.
Kristen Coury, CEO and producing artistic director of Gulfshore Playhouse, announced the cast and creative team of the upcoming production of Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park.
The free-spirited Corie and the buttoned-up Paul put the “new” in “newlywed” as they quickly realize the honeymoon really is over when everything that can go wrong does. In this hilarious comedy, their love is put to the test as their New York City walk-up apartment presents a slew of problems, Corie’s eccentric mother unexpectedly turns up, and their brash upstairs neighbor descends upon their home. Opposites attract, but are Corie and Paul willing to make compromises for the sake of their marriage?
“For our first Neil Simon in Gulfshore Playhouse history, I’m so thrilled to produce Barefoot in the Park,” says Coury. “It’s a timeless examination of marriage, the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, and new-found love. It’s fun, it’s frothy, and it’s actually quite touching. Just what we all need right now.”
Leading this production is director Peter Amster, who returns to Gulfshore Playhouse after previously directing It’s a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play and last season’s smash hit Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps. In Chicago, he has directed and choreographed at the Goodman Theater, Court, Northlight, Chicago Opera Theatre, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and Steppenwolf.
The cast of professional actors includes the return of Elisabeth Yancey (Steel Magnolias; Into the Breeches! and Clue at Cleveland Play House) as Corie and Marvin Bell (Radio Golf; Florida Rep, Cape Fear Theater, Playhouse on Park) as the Delivery Man. Making their Gulfshore Playhouse debuts are Jordan Sobel (The Donkey Show at A.R.T. and Twelfth Night at Asolo Rep) as Paul, Jonathan Brody (Broadway’s A Bronx Tale, Spamalot, Titanic) as Harry Pepper, Howard Kaye (Broadway’s Mamma Mia!) as Victor Velasco, and Peggy Roeder (Landscape of the Body and Romeo and Juliet at Goodman, films Road to Perdition and Groundhog Day) as Mrs. Ethel Banks.
The creative team includes scenic design by David L. Arsenault, costume design by Tracy Dorman, lighting design by Dalton Hamilton, sound design by Victoria Deiorio, intimacy direction by Katherine M. Carter and production stage manager Danny Kuenzel.
The Norris Center is located at 755 8th Avenue S., Naples. Tickets are available at gulfshoreplayhouse.org or by phone at 239-261-PLAY.