2025
Nov 16 @ 2:00pm
Performances:
Oct. 30-1, 6-8, 13-15, 20-22
Shows start at 7:30 PM
Matinee:
Sunday, November 16th @ 2:00pm
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The Story:
It is May of 1946 and Timmy Cleary has come home from the war to his estranged parents, John and Nettie, in the Bronx apartment where he grew up. As their reunion promises a return to life as it never was, John, giving up a lucrative business opportunity, attends a ball game with his son and grudgingly, at Timmy’s request, returns with roses for Nettie in an insincere attempt at reconciliation. Reminiscing, the three attempt to recapture the past and all it symbolizes, but the ideal is shattered amidst recriminations. The next morning Timmy announces he is leaving once again, and husband and wife must face the reality of life with only their memories.
Bryan Kirsch
as John Cleary
About John Cleary:
An Irish-Catholic, middle-class man who once brimmed with ambition but now lives with disappointment. He has built a steady business but feels his dreams have withered, leaving him bitter and prone to frustration. His relationship with his wife is strained, his bond with his son awkward, and he often turns to drinking as a release. Beneath his anger lies a yearning for respect and recognition that he rarely receives.
About Bryan Kirsch:
Bryan Kirsch is a Theatre West veteran; he made his first appearance on the Jack Coyne stage in The Murder Room (October 2009), and has since acted, directed, and supported in a number of Theatre West productions. Most recently he directed And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little earlier this year. He claims this addiction to be incurable.
Naomi Fast
as Nettie Cleary
About Nettie Cleary:
Nettie comes from a slightly more refined background and once believed marriage would offer her something better than it has. Instead, she has endured John’s emotional distance, failures, and infidelities. She both nurtures and smothers her son, using affection, guilt, and criticism as weapons in the battle with her husband. Resentful and wounded, she longs for tenderness and connection, but the way she expresses her pain often drives her family further away.
About Naomi Fast:
You may remember Naomi from such roles as the waffle-making, glass-shattering mom in The Subject Was Roses, and the highly strung but cooperative maid in Angel Street. The Dead Guy is Naomi’s third time onstage at Theatre West. As a lifelong student of theatre, she has enjoyed portraying such a range of characters here in Lincoln City with such talented theatre folks. Naomi would like to thank her husband and Trillium Natural Foods for their support of community theatre. It takes a village to put on a play!
Scott Christianson
as Timmy Cleary
About Timmy Cleary:
Timmy has just returned from the war , transformed by his time in the Army. Once sickly and overprotected, he now carries himself with more independence and clarity. He sees his parents’ marriage for what it is—a fragile truce built on regret and recrimination. He tries to bridge the gulf between them, but quickly realizes that his presence only reopens old wounds. In the end, Timmy chooses to leave again, understanding that he must carve out a life of his own rather than be trapped in the cycle of bitterness that defines his parents.
About Scott Christianson:
Scott discovered his love for acting and for Theater West 8 years ago when on a whim, he tried out for a part in The Odd Couple. Fate intervened and he was cast in a small part that ignited the flame! From that point on, he has joyfully become a part of Theatre West and is happy that he has found a way to give back to the local community.
Scott lives in Neotsu with his wife, his daughter and her fiance, his mother-in-law, and his newest love, his three-year-old granddaughter, Amaya. Both of Amaya’s parents are truly artistic using music and art as their ways of expression. Scott hopes that his acting will enhance Amaya’s love for all forms of artistic expression.
Bonnie Ross
Director
About Bonnie Ross:
After many years of performing and directing in Theatre West productions, Bonnie is happy to relax into her new role as assistant director. Mentoring new directors is a privilege, and Andrew is proving to be a thoughtful and organized leader who is ready for much success in the future. I’m so pleased to be a part of this production and observing the growth and courage of all these participants.
Andrew Schmitz
Assistant Director
About Andrew Schmitz:
Andrew Has been involved in Theatre West for ten years and has done a bit of everything. This is his Directorial Debut, and he couldn’t be happier to be directing this particular play with this cast and crew who are working so hard. His recent acting credits include Dial M for Murder, Angel Street, and Arsenic and Old Lace, in which he played a writer, a cop, and a writing cop respectively. He enjoys many other arts, and recently has been cutting opals to then make into silver jewelry.
Patrick Kiernan
Stage Manager
About Patrick Kiernan:
Patrick is pleased to be making his 6th appearance on the Jack Coyne Stage here at Theatre
West, recently coming off his performance as Al Lewis in Neil Simon’s THE SUNSHINE BOYS.
Previous productions include Camping With Henry and Tom, The Agatha Christie Mysteries,
Panache and Bakersfield Mist. He is pleased to be appearing in his second Readers Theatre
production. Patrick worked 35 years in the film and television industry before retirement,
moving to Lincoln City in 2020.
Russel Sweet
Stage Manager
About Russel Sweet:
Russel is making his acting debut at Theatre West. His acting credits include Our Town, Fiddler on the Roof, Oliver!,Once Upon a Mattress, I Do! I Do!, and Twelfth Night, among others.
A passionate supporter of the arts, Russel volunteers regularly at the Newport Performing Arts Center and Theatre West in Lincoln City.