"The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds Opens March 6 at The Schoolhouse

The Schoolhouse Theater opens its Spring 2014-2015 season on Friday, March 6, with the Pulitzer prize winning drama, The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds. Written by Paul Zindel, the play will run from through March 29, with shows on Fridays at 8 pm, Saturdays at 3 and 8 pm, and Sundays at 3pm.

Gamma Rays was considered one of Off-Broadway’s greatest successes, presenting a powerful and moving study of a shy, quiet, intelligent girl who somehow finds the strength to survive inside a disturbed family. In addition to winning the Pulitzer Prize in 1971, the drama also won the Obie Award and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best American Play of the season. In 1972, Paul Newman produced and directed Joanne Woodward in a critically-acclaimed film based on the play.

Elizabeth Van Dyke will direct this production. Her directorial credits include: Radio Golf & Gem of The Ocean; Gee’s Bend: The Ballad of Emmett Till (Giorgee Award, Best Director); The Piano Lesson; Ti Jean and His Brothers; Sophisticated Ladies (Onyx Award, Best Director); A Raisin In The Sun; Waiting To Be Invited; The Old Settler; Great Men Of Gospel (AUDELCO nomination for Best Director); Sweet Mama Stringbean; The Ethel Waters Story (AUDELCO nomination for Best Director.

Perri Gaffney will play the role of Beatrice, the domineering and abusive matriarch. She was last seen in Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (Repertory Theater of St. Louis). Other stage credits include: The Road Weeps, The Well Runs Dry (Perseverance Theatre & USF) and Steel Magnolias (American Stage – Theater Tampa Bay Nomination; Outstanding Lead Actress),

Kimber Monroe, will play the role of Tillie, whose love of science and experiment on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds acts as an escape from the challenges of her traumatic home life. She is currently a student at The New School for Drama’s BFA program. She has also performed in a Broadway production of South Pacific and has done commercials for Huntington Learning Center and Juicy Drop Pops.

Keona Welch will play Tillie’s older sister, Ruth, whose own psychiatric treatment doesn’t prevent her from trying to make Tillie look like the crazy one. Welch has New York and Off Broadway credits that include Moony’s Kid Don’t Cry, Blacken the Bubble, The Flower Thief, Colored People’s Time and Savanna Black & Blue.

Susan King will play the role of Nanny, a boarder, who remains silent throughout the play, adding to Beatrice’s burdens.

Over the years, The Schoolhouse Theater has earned a reputation as the go-to theater in Westchester, where audiences can see Broadway quality productions at a fraction of the cost. The Schoolhouse is a regional Equity theater, dedicated to presenting professional productions by award-winning playwrights and supporting and promoting all the arts.

Individual tickets for main stage productions are $38. Senior citizen discount tickets are $35 and student tickets are available at $20. They can be purchased online at www.schoolhousetheater.org or by calling the box office at 914-277-8477. The Schoolhouse is located at 3 Owens Road, Croton Falls, NY, just off exit 8 on I-684, and can be “Liked” on Facebook.