Blinn College-Brenham Campus Theatre Presents "The Odd Couple"

The Blinn College-Brenham campus Theatre Arts Program will kick off its 50th season with a popular story about a very unlikely couple. Blinn begins its celebration of half a century of theatre with “The Odd Couple” by Neil Simon. The play was first produced on Broadway in the mid-1960s, the same time that Blinn’s Theatre Arts Program began. “Not only is Neil Simon an immensely popular playwright, but ‘The Odd Couple’ is probably Mr. Simon’s most popular work,” said Brad Nies, Brenham campus theatre director. “We realized that this play would be a great way to start the season.” Shows begin at 7 p.m. Sept. 8-10 and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, in the Dr. W.W. O’Donnell Performing Arts Center (map). Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and students with ID. Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.blinn.edu/boxoffice, by calling 979-830-4024 or by emailing BoxOffice@blinn.edu. “The Odd Couple” takes place in the late 1960s and features Oscar Madison, a slob whose wife has left him, who invites his best friend Felix Unger to move into his Riverside Drive apartment with him. Felix becomes depressed that his own wife has thrown him out, but it is Oscar who has murder on his mind when the clean freak starts to drive him crazy. “The Odd Couple” has been produced on Broadway three times, with the most recent revival starring Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane. A female version of the show was written by Simon in 1985, and the play spawned two movies. “We are hoping our patrons will recall the play’s popularity and will come out for a very funny evening,” Nies said. This play will be the 2016 Theatre Arts Faculty Showcase for Blinn College – Brenham. Drama instructor Jennifer Patrick will direct, Technical Theatre Director Kevin Patrick will play the role of Oscar Madison, and Nies will play the role of Felix Unger. The same combination of talent was seen two years ago when Jennifer Patrick directed “Greater Tuna” in 2014.