BATTER UP WITH FOOL MOON’S BLEACHER BUMS!

BLEACHER BUMS is “Animal House” meets “Field of Dreams,” as the lovable losers in the Wrigley Field bleachers cheer for their cursed Chicago Cubs in a game against the hated St. Louis Cardinals. The Fool Moon Theatre’s production has a vibrant mix of veteran performers and extremely talented younger players. Pamela Dollak (Ocean City), who previously performed in Fool Moon Theatre’s “Bus Stop,” “Sylvia” and “Death Defying Acts,” plays Melody, the right field sun-worshipper. Rich McMahan (Galloway Twp), who plays Zig, a lovable loser, was last seen in “Bus Stop” and in Fool Moon Theatre’s “The Fantasticks.” Fool Moon Theatre welcomes back three veteran performers: Kevin Bruner (Galloway Twp), last seen in Fool Moon’s “Death Defying Acts”; Christian Maher (Ocean View) and Dave Somers (Absecon), who were both last seen in “The Fantasticks.”

New to the ensemble is Leesa Webb (Margate), who plays Zig’s long-suffering wife, and Matt Belinsky (Sicklerville) as the ever-present baseball geek. Two youngsters, Sam Cronick (Somers Point) and Daniel Donato, also make their Fool Moon Theatre debut. 

BLEACHER BUMS is directed by Scott Cronick (Somers Point), a founding member of the troupe who was last seen in “Bus Stop.” Mr. Cronick also portrays Greg, the blind baseball fanatic. 

The Chicago Cubs baseball team is facing their hated St. Louis rivals, but the real drama is in the stands, where a die-hard group of fans (a compassionate gambler, a hen-pecked hothead, an aspiring actress and a couple of jerks and geeks) make outrageous bets and reveal their true colors between the balls and strikes. Bleacher Bums originated as a play (cowritten by Joe Mantegna and Dennis Franz) that paid affectionate homage to the perennial losers and the fans who stand by them. But teams that break their fans' hearts are not a Chicago phenomenon (Do we need to mention The Phillies?). This will be a hit with any long-suffering sports fan whose rallying cry is, "Just wait 'til tomorrow/next week/next year or--in the Cubs' case--next century."

It’s a raucous comedy you won’t want to miss.

Fridays and Saturdays, April 27, 28 & May 4, 5 at 8 PM

Sunday Matinees, April 29 & May 6 at 2 PM