Brighton Beach Memoirs

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Brighton Beach Memoirs is a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age comedy by Neil Simon.

Set in Brooklyn, New York's Brighton Beach in 1937, it is the first play in what is known as Simon's "Eugene Trilogy." His protagonist is Eugene Morris Jerome, a Russian-Jewish teenager who experiences puberty, sexual awakening, and a search for identity as he tries to deal with his family, including his older brother Stanley, whom he idolizes.

After seven previews, the Broadway production, directed by Gene Saks, opened on March 27, 1983 at the Alvin Theatre (renamed after Simon three months later), where it ran for nearly two years before transferring to the 46th Street Theatre. It ran for a total of 1299 performances. The opening night cast included Matthew Broderick, Elizabeth Franz, Peter Michael Goetz, Željko Ivanek, and Joyce Van Patten. Jon Cryer, Fisher Stevens, Robert Sean Leonard, and Jonathan Silverman successively played Eugene following Broderick's departure. Replacements in other roles included David Margulies, Anita Gillette, Dick Latessa, and Elizabeth Perkins. New York Actor, Marc Tuminelli, starred in the role of Eugene throughout the run of this show. Most recently in Vermont with the renowned Equity theatre, Saint Michaels Playhouse. He was joined by Amanda Ryan Paige, playing Norah and Amanda Brooklyn playing Laurie.