Neil Simon's The Odd Couple Starring Tony Braithwaite and Peter Pryor Makes Kimmel Center Premiere, February 5 – March 1
JANUARY 15, 2009
Neil Simon's hilarious, successful Broadway play The Odd Couple opens in Philadelphia on February 5, 2009 for a four-week engagement at the Kimmel Center's Innovation Studio. Produced by Howard Perloff, the comedy will star Philadelphia actors/directors/producers Tony Braithwaite as ‘Felix Unger' and Peter Pryor as ‘Oscar Madison.' The official press opening will be Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at 8pm.
Part of the Kimmel Center's Broadway Series, tickets at $47 are on sale now at the Kimmel Center box office, Broad & Spruce Sts., (open daily 10am to 6pm), by calling 215-731-3333, or online at www.kimmelcenter.org/broadway. Group discounts are available by calling 215-790-5883.
Performances include: Thursdays and Fridays at 8pm; Saturdays at 5pm and 8pm; Sundays at 3pm. Additional performances are scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 10 and Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 8pm.
Felix Unger, a neurotic, neat freak newswriter, is thrown out by his wife, and moves in with his friend Oscar Madison, a messy sportswriter. While living in the same house, comical magic ensues as this odd couple forms an unusual friendship. Clean freak Felix and the ultimate slob Oscar are the unforgettable characters in this hilarious Broadway comedy that spawned both popular film and television productions of the same name.
The play will star two well-known Philadelphia area actors, who are also directors and producers…
Tony Braithwaite is a local actor, director, teacher, M.C. and comic. Most recently he starred in his one-man show Look Mom, I'm Swell! for Act 2 Playhouse, where he has also appeared in Stones in His Pockets, Say Goodnight Gracie and his Barrymore-Award winning turn as Boyd in The Big Bang. Tony has also worked with 1812 Productions, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Arden Theatre Company, Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festivals, Hedgerow Theatre, Montgomery Theatre and others.
He has emceed the Barrymore Awards four times, as well as two of Governor Rendell's Inaugural Galas. Television work includes playing himself as an acting coach on MTV's reality show, "Made." Currently Tony is directing his third show for The University of Pennsylvania's Mask and Wig Club. He also recently directed Scapin at his beloved alma mater, St. Joe's Prep, and he will direct his 30th show there - Urinetown - in May. Tony heads up the Corporate Comedy Division of his brother's firm, Braithwaite Communications. www.tonybraithwaite.com
Peter Pryor is the co-founder of 1812 Productions for whom he directed Recent Tragic Events and the Barrymore Award-winning The Four of Us. Most recently he directed Cinderella at People's Light and Theatre. He is the recipient of two individual artist fellowships from The Independence Foundation and two Barrymore Awards for his acting work in the Philadelphia regional theatre. Credits include: Arden Theatre, Act II Playhouse, Azuka Theatre, The Boarshead, Cape May Stage, Theatre Exile, The Lantern, People's Light and Theatre Co., Freedom Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Co, The O'Casey Theater Company of Ireland and The Wilma. Film and TV: The Cellar, Surrender Dorothy, The In Crowd, Felix Melman, Hack and The Starship Akuno. Up next he will be directing the premiere of Karma Cookie for 1812 Productions. He is the artist in residence at the Pathway School.
During the 2009 Kimmel Center's Broadway Series, where theatrical presentations in Philadelphia are presented at the Academy of Music, productions will include: Jesus Christ Superstar (Jan. 30 – Feb. 1); RENT (Feb. 3 – 8); Happy Days – A New Musical (Mar. 24 – 29); Riverdance (Mar. 31 – Apr. 5); Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (April 7 – 12); Movin' Out (May 15 – 17); and Spring Awakening (June 23 – 28).
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