Theater Preview: GRUMPY OLD MEN — THE MUSICAL (La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts)

FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELT;
IT’S GOING TO BE A GRUMPY RIDE

John and Max are elderly neighbors in a cold Minnesota town. They both live alone in their homes since their wives have died, and exchange stories about how their friends are now dying when they are not busy insulting each other. They have a contemptuous rivalry that goes back over 50 years. When the beautiful and charming Ariel moves in across the street — the rivalry is raised to new heights.

Based on the beloved 1993 American romantic comedy film starring Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, and Ann-Margret, a new musical version of Grumpy Old Men arrives at La Mirada Theatre starring Tony and Emmy Award-winning actor Hal Linden, gym star turned Peter Pan Cathy Rigby (both   pictures in poster), and the colossal Ken Page of Ain’t Misbehavin’ and The Nightmare Before Christmas (pictured left). Also in the cast are Mark Jacoby as “John Gustafson,” as “Max Goldman,” Leslie Stevens as “Ariel Truax,” Craig McEldowney as “Jacob Goldman,” April Nixon as “Sandra Snyder” and Ashley Moniz as “Melanie Norton.”    The Ensemble also features Joe Abraham, John Battagliese, Fatima El-Bashir, Allen Everman, Karla Franko, Heather Jane Rolff, Neil Starkenberg and Paul C. Vogt.

The book is by actor/writer Dan Remmes, with music by successful composer Neil Berg and lyrics by Nick Meglin, a longtime  MAD magazine editor, writer, and illustrator who died two months before this show’s U.S. premiere last year in Maine. The show previews this Friday, September 20, 2019 (with a press opening on Saturday, September 21 at 8 pm) and runs through Sunday, October 13, 2019.