The Philadelphia premiere of Victor Bumbalo's side-splitting and touching comedy "Niagara Falls," one of three finalists for the 2008 Lambda Literary Award, opens on July 16 for a three-week run at Philadelphia's Shubin Theatre, 407 Bainbridge Street. Centered around an Italian-American family's reaction to their gay son and his lover coming home for his sister's wedding, it's been described as "Tony 'n' Tina's Wedding meets Queer as Folk." Rich Rubin directs.

Presented by Quince Productions, LLC (an independent Philadelphia producer which burst on the scene last January with David Parker and the Bang Group's "Backward and in Heels"), the comedy is split into two parts. "American Coffee" is set in the Poletti family kitchen on the morning of the wedding, as the bride's parents deal with--and can't deal with--the fact that their son and his lover have surprised them with a visit for the wedding and are currently sleeping upstairs. Will they attend? Will they (gasp) dance together? Will Poletti and Ventura tongues wag? "Bumbalo must have taped parents across the country," says the Bay Area Reporter, "he outdoes Neil Simon." Part Two, "The Shangri-La Motor Inn," picks up with the newlywed couple, in the aftermath of the wedding, already having doubts about their future. Enter Fred, the gay hotel clerk, who takes it upon himself to save their already-floundering marriage. (Interestingly, the Polettis' gay son and his partner, who impel the action of both halves of "Niagara Falls," never appear onstage.) The New York Native raves, "Original in conception, cleverly plotted, rich in characters, and genuinely funny."

The Lambda Literary Awards, celebrating their 20th year in 2008, recognize achievements by GLBT authors. In naming "Niagara Falls" one of this year's finalists, the Lambda Literary Foundation puts Bumbalo in the company of such past playwriting finalists as Jonathan Larsen (author of "Rent"), Craig Lucas, Terrence McNally, Eve Ensler (of "Vagina Monologues" fame), Tony Kushner, Holly Hunter, and Larry Kramer. Director Rich Rubin previously directed the world premiere of Bumablo's "Show" in New York, as well as world premieres by such writers as Mark Ameen, Sarah Schulman, Robert Patrick, and Daniel Curzon.

"Niagara Falls" opens Wednesday, July 16, 2008, at the Shubin Theatre, 407 Bainbridge Street, Philadelphia, for a three-week run, through August 2. The play runs Wednesday through Saturday nights at 8 pm. Tickets are $25 Thursdays through Saturdays; Wednesdays (including opening night) are just $15. For information, call Quince at (215) 627-1088, or purchase tickets online at www.quinceproductions.com.

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