Those Were the 'Days'

On Friday, December 2, The Sherman Playhouse will debut Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse's classic family portrait Life with Father. The curtain rises at 8:00 p.m. on this three-week holiday run.

Life with Father is a joyous and sentimental glance at the Day family, set in Manhattan in the late 19th century. It involves patriarch Clarence Day, his beautiful wife Vinnie, their four sons, a loyal cook, and relations who fail to see the point of hotels. The themes of first love, old love, and the enduring lure of family make it a comedic delight for all ages.

The production features a large cast of talented actors: Bill Kenyon (Ridgefield), Steve Manzino (Holmes, N.Y.), Mary-Genevieve Moisan (Washington), Jeff Rossman (New Fairfield), Maureen Previn, Judy Sullivan (both Bridgewater), Keli Solomon, Phair Elizabeth, Stacy-Lee Frome, Lynn Nissenbaum (all New Milford), Elias Osborne, Alex DesJardins, Chris Marker, and Tim, Lily, and Deb Vlangas (all Sherman).

Besides Frome, the show's crew consists of assistant director Keli Solomon, costume designer Terry Hawley, lighting designer Al Chiappetta, sound designer David White, and stage manager Deb Vlangas.

Life with Father is based on Clarence Day, Jr.'s 1935 book, filled with humorous stories of family and life. The play first opened on Broadway at The Empire Theatre on November 8, 1939 and ran until July 12, 1947, making it the longest running non-musical Broadway show in history. The successful play lead to a 1947 film starring William Powell, Irene Dunne, and Elizabeth Taylor, as well as a 1953 television series.

Life with Father runs December 2,3,4 9,10,11 16,17,18. Curtain time is 8:00 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays, with 2:00 p.m. Sunday matinees on December 4, 11 and 18. Tickets for all shows are $22 for adults and $11 for children 12 and under.

On Thursday, December 1, all patrons are invited to attend a "Half-Price Preview Night" at 8:00 p.m. where all tickets are only $11. Students may see any performance for $11 if they pay in cash only at the door and carry a valid student ID. Students may not make reservations in advance for a performance.

PLEASE NOTE: The Sherman Playhouse will be announcing its 2017 main stage shows and their directors at the opening night after-party of Life With Father on December 2.

Reservations can be made online at shermanplayers.org or by calling the box office at (860) 354-3622.

The Sherman Playhouse is a non-Equity theatre company located at 5 Route 39 North (next to the firehouse) in Sherman, CT.