Shhhh, it's just 'Rumors' Neil Simon play staged at Playhouse

HURON -- The Huron Playhouse continues its 60th anniversary season with Rumors, a fast-paced and hilariously frantic farce by Neil Simon. Huron Playhouse alumni, Ron Leibman, starred in the original Broadway production of Rumors, and as a tribute to Leibman -- and to all Playhouse alums -- it seems fitting to include this Neil Simon laughter-filled 'romp' as part of the anniversary season celebration. Rumors plays July 22-26 at the Playhouse.

Four couples are at the townhouse of a deputy NYC mayor and his wife to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. The party never begins because the host has shot himself (only a flesh wound) and his wife is missing. His lawyer's cover-up gets more difficult to sustain as other guests arrive and nobody can remember who has been told what about whom. It's light, frothy, fun and truly sidesplitting humor at it's best. Doors will slam, hilarity will abound and laughter will ring from the rafters.

The ensemble cast features four couples and two police officers -- Chris (Julie Berry, Huron) and Ken Gorman (Chris Stewart, Bellevue, Neb.); Claire (Nicole Renee Hale, Owensboro, Ky.) and Lenny Ganz (Pete Podolski , Plymouth, Mich.); Ernie (Ryan Shaw, Waukesha, Wis.) and Cookie Cusack (Rachel Frady, Mount Vernon); Glenn (Charlie Rasmann, Rockford, Ill.) and Cassie Cooper (Britney Koser, Huron); Officer Welch (Antwaun Holley, Cleveland) and Officer Pudney (Meggan Conti, Akron); Dennis C. Seyer (Cape Girardeau, Mo.), who designed last year's set for Kiss Me Kate and Nunsense, returns to serve as director and scenic designer for this comic farce.

Costume designer is Amanda Clements (Medina); Britney Koser (Huron) is serving as properties supervisor; lighting designer is Christopher Moeller (Livonia, Mich.); technical director is Todd P. Canedy (Bowling Green); Brieanna Bailey (Grand Island, N.Y.) is assistant to the director; and Natalie Cooper (Celina) is the production stage manager with Nathan Heldstab (Crookston, Minn.) as assistant stage manager.

Ticket prices for all Huron Playhouse productions are $14 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, and $9 for children under 12. The curtain time is 8 p.m. nightly (Tuesday-Saturday). For reservations and further information, please contact the Huron Playhouse at 419-433-4744. The Box Office at McCormick School, 325 Ohio Street, is open Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m.-9 p.m.