The Windham Theatre Guild continues their 2011-2012 season with a community theatre favorite…The Boys Next Door by Tom Griffin, opening Friday, February 3rd at the Burton Leavitt Theater.
An Off-Broadway success, this awe-inspiring plan focuses on the lives of four mentally challenged men who live in a communal residence under the watchful eye of a sincere, but increasingly despairing, social worker named Jack. Mainly, Jack’s job is to help these men live regular lives. They consist of: Norman, who works at a donut shop and has a thing for keys; Barry, who thinks he is a golf pro and doesn’t communicate well with his father; Arnold, who is into all things Russian and has a habit of spending money; and Lucien, who is into Spider Man and must testify before the state senate. Jack wants to help them, but he also thinks it is time to move on with his life. The hard part is trying to say goodbye to the guys he cares about.
Directing this classic is Barry A. Schreier, Barry is a licensed Psychologist and is Director of UConn’s Counseling and Mental Health Services. The Boys Next Door marks Barry’s fifth production with the WTG, having previously directed On Golden Pond and the thriller Wait Until Dark; he stage managed The Movie Game and acted in The Odd Couple. Barry is also the co-editor of the book recently published by Wiley and Sons, “The Handbook of Multicultural Counseling Competencies.” Barry lives in Storrs with his husband Tom who is the Master Carpenter for this production.
The Boys Next Door runs February 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 17th & 18th at 8:00pm, Thursday February 16th at 7:30pm, and Sunday Matinee February 12th at 2:00pm at the Burton Leavitt Theatre, 779 Main Street, Willimantic. Ticket prices are $16 for Adults, $13 for Students/Seniors, and $9 for children under 12. All UCONN, ECSU & QVCC students pay the discounted price of $10. Group discounts are also available. For reservations and information, call the Windham Theatre Guild at 860-423-2245 or buy your tickets on-line at windhamtheatreguild.org.