For Immediate Release: August 30, 2005
Media Contact: Amy Watson Bish, Delaware Theatre Company, 302.594.1104 x244

If a complete stranger saved your life,wouldn't you want to meet him? Wouldn't you do anythingfor him? Money? A place to stay? Anything? What if you finallymet this stranger and it turned out that he was really annoying?

WillumCubbert has a problem: Rick Steadman, the man who saved his life inVietnam. When Steadman shows up on Willum's doorstep, Willumwelcomes him with open arms. What he didn't count on wasSteadman turning into the houseguest from Hell.

ProducingDirector Anne Marie Cammarato is pleased to be directing Larry Shue'sThe Nerd as she kicks off her second season at DTC. "Ithought it would be great fun to start our new season with a goodlaugh," she says, "and this play will do just that."

The Nerd takesplace in the 1980s in Terre Haute, Indiana. It is Willum Cubbert'sbirthday, and a message appears on his answering machine announcingthe re-appearance of one Rick Steadman - the mystery man whosaved Willum's life in Vietnam. Unfortunately, it becomesapparent upon his arrival that Rick is everything that Willumdetests: self-centered, boring and stupid. However, such is Willum'sgratitude towards his savior that he (and his guests) put up withRick's irritating behavior, stupid games, rambling and inaneconversation - everything about him makes him the guest fromHell. To make matters worse, six days later, it is clear that Rick isgoing nowhere. He is affecting Willum's home and work life anddriving his friends mad, but Willum cannot bring himself to sayoutright that he wants Rick to go.

AnneMarie Cammarato believes that the brilliance of The Nerd liesin, "its ability to delight you with both broad strokes andnuance - it presents an exaggerated example of what friendshipcan force people to do, which is simply hilarious, but it also haslayers of charm and warmth that lie beneath the surface of thelaughs."

Accordingto Ms. Cammarato, the comedic playwriting of Larry Shue cannot bematched. She adds, "Shue's ability to draw humor from themore obvious physically comedic elements of farce while alsocapturing the dialogue and sentiment of contemporary times made him ararity amongst American playwrights." Shue's TheForeigner, a huge hit for DTC and many regional theatres in the1980s, was revived last Broadway season by the Roundabout Theatrestarring Matthew Broderick. Shue died in a commuter plane crash in1985 at the age of thirty-nine.

To pulloff a show like The Nerd, it takes not only a director with anunderstanding of the subtleties behind the broad humor, but actorswho can make the absurd seem natural. "I believe we'veassembled some of the funniest and most talented people working inthe American theatre," says Ms. Cammarato.

Starringas the unfortunate architect Willum Cubbert is Ben Cherry (a familiarface from last season's Barrymore Award nominated production ofForever Plaid). "I am extremely excited to be back atDTC working with Anne Marie in this pee-your-pants funny play."In New York City, Ben is a founding member of The Sonnet RepertoryTheatre and has been seen in numerous roles at regional theatresincluding Utah Shakespeare Festival and Milwaukee Repertory Theatre.What would the real Ben Cherry do if a Rick Steadman showed up at hisdoor? "I would let him in," admits Cherry, "but Iwouldn't put up with him as long as Willum does."

Starringopposite Cherry is Jeffrey M. Bender as the title character, nerdyRick Steadman. In addition to numerous regional credits, Mr. Benderhe has been a company member of the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jerseyfor seven years. Playing the awfully annoying Rick isn't astough at it might seem. "I used to be a nerd myself,"says Bender, "but Rick takes it to another level. He iscompletely socially inept and has absolutely no tact. But it'sgreat, because he gets to say whatever he wants."

Local theatre mavenKeith Powell, Producing Artistic Director of Contemporary StageCompany at The Grand Opera House, will take the stage as thedelightfully cynical Axel, best friend to Willum. "Working withDTC and Anne Marie is an exciting way to pool both theatres'resources," says Powell. Though Contemporary Stage Company'sshows run only during the summer, Powell works year round, inaddition to acting in other companies' productions. "Towork on a play that is so funny it's criminal, makes it feellike a vacation."

The roleof Willum's girlfriend,Tansy, will be played by Erika Kreutz.Ms. Kreutz has worked previously with Anne Marie Cammarato whilestarring as Catherine in Proof at the Madison RepertoryTheatre. Locally, she was featured as Louise in The Underpantsat The Arden Theatre in Philadelphia.

DTCfavorite John Grassilli will take the stage as Warnock Walgrave,Willum's short-fused boss, along with long-time regionaltheatre actress Diane Robinson, as his long-suffering wife. Makingtheir DTC stage debut with The Nerd are two students fromDTC's Summer on Stage camp, Alex Cook and JoshZimmerman, who will share the role of the Warnock's son, Thor.

Productionstaff for The Nerd includes DTC's own Eric Schaeffer,Set Designer, and Shannon Zura, Sound Designer. Rebecca G. Frederickreturns as Lighting Designer, and Mattie Ullrich is also back asCostume Designer. Casting by Stephanie Klapper and Klapper Casting.

Performancesof The Nerd by Larry Shue are September 14th -October 2nd. Opening Night is Saturday, September 17th.Evening performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 8PM, matineeperformances are Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 2PM, and thespecial Friday Early Show is on September 23rd at 6:30PM.Tickets prices are $25 - $45, depending on the performance day andtime, with special discounts for students, seniors, and groups of 10or more.

Formore information or to purchase tickets, contact the DTC Box Officeat (302)594-1100 or visit our website: www.delawaretheatre.org.

DelawareTheatre Company's 2005-2006 season is sponsored by JP MorganChase. Artist transportation provided by Amtrak. This program is madepossible, in part, by grants from the National Endowment for the Artsand the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency committed topromoting and supporting the arts in Delaware. The Delaware Divisionof the Arts provides technical and financial assistance to artistsand arts programs and serves as a clearinghouse for information onthe arts.

THENERD by Larry Shue is presented by arrangement with Dramatists PlayService, Inc., in New York.

DelawareTheatre Company, Delaware's premier professional theatre, is locatedat 200 Water Street, on Wilmington's exciting Riverfront.Delaware Theatre Company is a member of the League of ResidentTheatres, Theatre Communications Group, the Arts Consortium ofDelaware, the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, the GreaterPhiladelphia Cultural Alliance, the Arts & Business Council ofGreater Philadelphia, the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce, andthe Wilmington Convention & Visitors Bureau.

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