“OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS” TO OPEN FLORIDA REP’S HISTORIC ARCADE THEATRE!

“OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS” TO OPEN FLORIDA REP’S HISTORIC ARCADE THEATRE!

FORT MYERS, FL – Florida Repertory Theatre is pleased to announce the opening of “Over the River and Through the Woods”, a hilarious and warm-hearted family fiasco by Joe DiPietro the Tony Award winning author of “Memphis”, “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change”, and many more.

Described as “a hilarious family comedy… even funnier than DiPietro’s long-running musical revue ‘I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change’!” by Backstage, this is one family dinner that is not to be missed! “Over the River and through the Woods” plays at Florida Rep October 28-November 16 with four discounted previews October 25-27.

“We are delighted to open the season in the Arcade with this hilarious comedy that is as funny as it is touching,” said Producing Artistic director, Robert Cacioppo. “This is truly one of the great American comedies because its message about family is universal, and Joe DiPietro’s characters are incredibly real and relatable. These grandparents could be anyone’s grandparents, and we laugh at them because we all know them. You’re in for a real treat with ‘Over the River and Through the Woods’.”

In “Over the River and Through the Woods”, see what happens when 29-year-old Nick tells his doting Italian-American grandparents he’s leaving home to take a dream job across the country. His grandparents are stunned – why would he want to leave his family? The meatballs hit the fan as the grandparents plot and scheme to find a way to keep Nick from leaving home.

“Over the River and Through the Woods” features an all-star cast of familiar faces and Florida Rep newcomers, including ensemble members Jason Parrish and Viki Boyle. Parrish returns after recent Rep appearances in “The Dingdong”, “Twelve Angry Men”, and six years as one of Santa’s elves in David Sedaris’ “The Santaland Diaries”, and Boyle returns after being seen in last season’s “A Christmas Story”, and 2014’s “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike”. The cast also features New York based veterans of the regional and New York stages, Jon Freda, John LaGioia, and Andrea Gallo, and Florida Rep intern, Sarah Katherine Zanotti, also making her Florida Rep debut.

Producing Artistic Director Robert Cacioppo directs and is joined by an expert team of designers including set designer, Bert Scott (“The Unexpected Guest”), costume designer, Alice Neff (Florida Rep debut), lighting designer, David M. Upton (“Becky’s New Car”), sound designer, John Kiselica (“The Dingdong”), and production stage manager, Janine Wochna (“The Cocktail Hour”).

“Over the River and Through the Woods” plays in the Historic Arcade Theatre October 28 to November 16 with four discounted previews October 25 at 8pm, October 26 at 2pm and 8pm, and October 27 at 8pm. Regular performances Tuesday-Saturday at 8pm and matinees on Wednesday, Sunday, and selected Saturdays.

Priced at $52 and $45 for regular performances and $32 and $25 for previews, single tickets are now on sale through the box office at 239-332-4488 and online at www.floridarep.org.

“Over the River and Through the Woods” is generously sponsored by Campo Felice and Dr. Alexander M. Eaton and Dr. Hussein Wafapoor of The Retina Health Center.

Florida Repertory Theatre performs in the Historic Arcade Theatre and the ArtStage Studio Theatre on Bay St. between Jackson & Hendry with limited free parking in the Fort Myers River District. Visit Florida Rep online at FloridaRep.org, and by following the company on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube.