Photo Flash: Ground UP Productions Presents BAREFOOT IN THE PARK 7/9-7/25

Ground UP Productions, The company behind the critically acclaimed musical The People vs. Mona, presents a revival of Neil Simon's Barefoot in the Park at Manhattan Theatre Source. Opening July 9, the production stars Guy Olivieri (Rent National Tour), Kate Middleton (Joe Pintauro's Cathedral) and Amelia White (Broadway: Heiress and Crazy for You) as Paul, Corie and Mrs. Banks, respectively.

When newlyweds Paul and Corie Bratter move into their walk up apartment, their fledgling marriage is put to the test. The couple must deal with eccentric neighbors, a dilapidated apartment and an exasperating five flights of stairs. In Ground UP Productions' revival of the classic New York comedy, the audience members are as close as eavesdropping neighbors to Paul and Corie in the intimate Manhattan Theatre Source.

Barefoot in the Park opened in October 1963 at the Biltmore Theatre and played for 1,530 performances, the longest Broadway run for any of Neil Simon's plays. It was nominated for four Tony Awards, winning Best Director for Mike Nichols.

Lon Bumgarner directs. Joining Olivieri, Middleton and White in the cast are Brian Lafontaine (Phone Guy), Tom Moglia (Delivery Man), and Eric Purcell (Victor Velasco). The design team includes Travis McHale (set and lighting), Stacey Berman (costumes) and Wade Dansby 3 (graphic). Kate August serves as the stage manager.

Performances of Barefoot in the Park run July 8 through 25, opening on July 9, at Manhattan Theatre Source (177 MacDougal Street, between Waverly Pl. and West 8th St.; Subway: A/C/E or B/D/F/V to West 4th) Wednesday through Friday at 8:00 pm; Saturday at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm and Sunday at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased by calling (212) 352-3101 or on-line at www.theatermania.com.

Ground UP Productions produced the New York premiere of the smash hit musical The People vs. Mona by Jim Wann and Patricia Miller. The production was hailed as "good natured, down home fun" by the New York Times, "consistently inventive" by the New York Post and a "hootin' good time" by Variety. The company has also produced critically the world premiere of Jason Chimonides' The Optimist ("deliriously entertaining" - New Yorker) as well as the acclaimed revivals of Baby with the Bathwater, Proof and Burn This. Ground UP Productions continues to break ground with the new classics, reviving well-known theatre in unique ways and producing new works destined for greatness. For additional information, visit www.groundupproductions.org.

Photo Credit: Randy Morrison

Guy Olivieri and Kate Middleton