The Windham Theatre Guild is proud to present one of the funniest plays ever written…The Nerd by Larry Shue, opening Friday, February 13th at the Burton Leavitt Theatre.
Larry Shue also wrote the hit comedy The Foreigner, which was successfully produced by the Guild last season.
The story of The Nerd is about an aspiring young architect Willum Cubbert. He has often told his friends about the debt he owes to Rick Steadman, a fellow ex-GI whom he has never met but who saved his life after he was seriously wounded in Vietnam. He has written to Rick to say that, as long as he is alive, “you will have somebody on earth who will do anything for you”—so Willum is delighted when Rick shows up unexpectedly at his apartment. But Rick is a hopeless “nerd”—a bumbling oaf with no social sense, little intelligence and less tact. And Rick stays well beyond his welcome which leads to one uproarious incident after another, until the normally placid Willum finds himself contemplating violence—a dire development which, happily, is staved off by the surprising “twist” ending of the play.
Co-Directing The Nerd are Michele Hettinger and Chad Dominique. Michele returns to direct her 4th show at the Guild. (“Kitchen Witches”, “The Movie Game”, and “Plaza Suite”). She was most recently the voice of “Dragon” in the summer musical “Shrek”. She is excited to be working with her co-director, making his directorial debut, Chad Dominique. Chad is a graduate of Eastern Connecticut State University, having graduated May 2014 with a Bachelor’s in Theatre with a minor in Communication. Throughout his time at Eastern, he has performed in various collegiate theatrical productions. This marks his directorial debut with the Windham Theatre Guild.
The Nerd runs February 13th, 14th, 20th & 21st at 8:00pm, Thursday February 19th at 7:30pm, and Sunday Matinees on February 15th & 22nd at 2:00pm at the Burton Leavitt Theatre, 779 Main Street, Willimantic. Ticket prices are $18 for Adults, $15 for Students/Seniors, and $11 for children under 12. All UCONN, ECSU & QVCC students pay the discounted price of $12. Group discounts are also available. Anyone who buys a ticket at the door on Thursday, February 19th will pay the kid’s price of just $11. This special offer does NOT apply to tickets reserved in advance. For reservations and information, call the Windham Theatre Guild at 860-423-2245 or buy your tickets on-line at windhamtheatreguild.org.