Neil Simon’s Biloxi Blues Will Be Staged at The Towers

Add theater to the list of activities taking place at Narragansett’s famed Towers on Ocean Road. Organizers are staging performances of Neil Simon’s Biloxi Blues this weekend and next, with a champagne gala to kick things off tomorrow night at 7:30.

The century-old landmark’s bone-shaped room has been turned into a 130-seat theater with a raised stage, sets and lighting, said Towers coordinator Kate Vivian. Vivian said that while the Towers, site of dozens of weddings and public events each year, has put on a few plays in the past, it has never attempted a production quite so elaborate as this. Dates have been blocked out for future theater events, said Vivian, but “nothing is in ink yet.”

“We’re terribly excited about it,” she said.

David DiLullo, who heads up the theater program at The Prout School, will direct the show, which is being produced in collaboration with Wakefield’s Cornerstone Playhouse.

The Cornerstone, which seats very few people, had been talking about mounting Simon’s semi-autobiographical comedy about Army life for some time, said Vivian, but it was felt the larger Towers, which is taking the lead in producing the show, would be the more suitable venue.

Performances run tomorrow night and Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday at 2, and next Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30.

Tickets for tomorrow night’s gala, which includes champagne, hors d’oeuvres and a meet-and-greet with the director and cast following the show, are $50.

Otherwise, shows are $22-$28 if purchased in advance.

Two-dollar discounts are available for students, seniors, veterans and military personnel.

Call (401) 782-2597 of visit www.thetowersri.com.

Narragansett’s Towers on Ocean Road will be the setting of Neil Simon’s Biloxi Blues this weekend and next, with a champagne gala kicking things off this Friday night at 7:30. The Providence Journal / Steve Szydlowski — Channing Gray — Channing Gray

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