FUSE Productions Presents Benefit Reading of ‘The Odd Couple’

FUSE Productions will present a staged reading of Neil Simon’s classic comedy ‘The Odd Couple’ at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Schwab Auditorium on the Penn State campus. 

The reading, a fundraiser for Friends of FUSE Productions, is being sponsored by First Citizens Community Bank and Grace Prep High School.

Local radio personality and stage performer Jeff Brown will take on the Oscar Madison role, while Felix Ungar will be played by FUSE producing artistic director Richard Biever. Other cast members include Jonathan O’Harrow, Ken Wozetek, Katie Kensinger and Regina Brannen.

“We’ve been talking about ‘The Odd Couple’ for years, looking for something to do together,” said Brown. “And when Rich told me I wouldn’t have to dance or memorize lines, I said, ‘I’m in!’”

‘The Odd Couple’ premiered on Broadway in 1965 and was adapted into a 1968 film, a 1970s television series and several other incarnations. In the story, hilarity ensues when Felix Ungar, a neurotic, neat freak news writer, is thrown out by his wife and moves in with his friend Oscar Madison, a slovenly sportswriter.  

“Probably the funniest part of the show is how Felix and Oscar fall into the patterns of a typical married couple,” said Biever. “Everyone can relate to a bit of each character.”

Tickets for the performance are $25 for adults and $15 for students. A limited number of “Golden Circle” seats are available for $50 each. Tickets can be purchased at www.fuseproductions.thundertix.com.

Based in State College, FUSE produces everything from contemporary plays such as ‘4000 Miles’ to ground-breaking musicals such as ‘A Chorus Line.’ Recent highlights include a local premiere of ‘Fun Home,’ as well as full stagings of two classic Lerner and Loewe musicals, ‘Camelot’ and ‘My Fair Lady.’

Upcoming FUSE productions include noted children’s author Mo Willems’ ‘Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical’ on May 9 and ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame,’ a 2015 musical based on the Disney animated film, June 21-23.