UND to present ‘Barefoot in the Park’ at Burtness Theatre

Photo by Amy Lyste By Pamela Knudson Today at 7:00 AM Listen Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? GRAND FORKS — The UND Department of Theatre Arts will present Neil Simon’s “Barefoot in the Park,” with opening night set for Wednesday, Nov. 11, in the Burtness Theatre. Performances of the romantic comedy begin at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, Nov. 11-14, with a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday, Nov. 15. ADVERTISEMENT Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for students, seniors and adult military. Student military are free; tickets will be available at the box office on the night of the show. Military ID is required. For tickets, go to www.theatre.und.edu . All sales are credit or debit card; cash and checks are not accepted. This is the second show of the department’s 2026-27 season, following a successful run of “The Addams Family,” which was staged at Starcher Hall on campus. The original production of “Barefoot in the Park” opened on Broadway in 1963. The film adaptation was released in 1967. Both the play and film starred Robert Redford. UND’s theater production, directed by James Tweedale, tells the story of Paul and Corie Bratter, who are newlyweds in every sense of the word, said Brad Reissig, associate professor of theater design and production manager with the UND Department of Theatre Arts. “He’s a straight arrow lawyer and she’s a free spirit always looking for the latest kick. Their new apartment is her most recent find — too expensive, with bad plumbing and in need of a paint job,” Reissig said in the event announcement. “After a six-day honeymoon, they get a surprise visit from Corie’s loopy mother and decide to play matchmaker during a dinner with their neighbor-in-the-attic, Velasco, where everything that can go wrong does.” ADVERTISEMENT Paul just doesn’t understand her, as Corie sees it, Reissig said. “He’s too staid, too boring and she just wants him to be a little more spontaneous. Running ‘barefoot in the park’ would be a start.” The cast members are: Molly Robb and Joseph Shappell, as Corie and Paul Bratter; Hannah Scholand, as Corie’s mother; Breck Hocum, as Victor Velasco; Zac Quinn, as the telephone repair man; and T.J. Fyfe, as the delivery man. ‘Classic romantic comedy’ James Tweedale, assistant teaching professor, said “Barefoot in the Park” was chosen for this season “because it is a classic romantic comedy that greatly influenced theater and the entertainment industry. The playwright, Neil Simon, basically created what we now know as a situational comedy or the ‘sit-com’ format.” “Barefoot in the Park” and “The Odd Couple,” Simon’s early plays, were turned into TV shows “and so many have followed in their footsteps; two people living in an apartment who have wildly different viewpoints and habits trying to coexist with hilarious results — and yes, it’s a really funny show too,” Tweedale said. The audience will “fall in love with Corie and Paul Bratter,” he said. This young couple “is so endearing and relatable, you can’t help but root for them immediately. Add to that, the comedic chemistry between Molly and Joseph and you have a hilarious performance that is a joy to watch.” The entire cast “does an excellent job,” Tweedale said. Breck Hocum, the eccentric upstairs neighbor Victor Velasco, is “charming and unpredictable.” Hannah Scholand, who plays Corie’s mother, “switches between delightfully deadpan and overly dramatic delivery,” he said. “T.J. Fyfe brings excellent physical comedy to the stage and Zac Quinn, as Harry Pepper, has hilarious reactions to these wild newlyweds.” ADVERTISEMENT The play presents a lot of “fun opportunities for students to problem solve and utilize their artistry,” Tweedale said. The time period of the play, the 1960s, “gave the students working on the set, props and costumes a whole world to create. “The actors had to learn the movement and language of the time, how to hold themselves, how to sit, and what slang or phrases were used differently then.” The production team includes Samantha Samson, stage manager; Reissig, scenic and lighting designer; Amy Lyste, costume designer; Tami Carmichael, dramaturg; and Matthew Koehler, sound designer and technical director. Assistant stage managers are Eli Adams and Bethany Springs. Other production staff members include Zac Quinn, Lochlann Lusher, Chazz Primeau, Max Dobransky, Zachary Evans, Liliana Hirsch, Andrew Jacobs, Andy Reland, Sam Samson, Oliver van Tiel, Brenna Borgen, Avery Coppin, Mya Johnson, Lucas Waldusky, Rebecca Uglem, Violet Fonnesback, Kyanne Galbraith, Michelle Kim, Laura Riley, Joseph Shappell, Bethany Shipley, Aspen Geist, Katy Douglas, Elijah Holman, Brock Braun, Maxwell Buhr, Liv Evans, T.J. Fyfe, Timothy Johnson, Brady Lyke, Sebastian Mercado, Ian Olslunde, Addison Perkins, Alex Rhode, Keaton Ullyot, Ivan Chen, Emily Wirkus and Videesha Perera. Read more Teen Dungeons and Dragons clubs in Greater Grand Forks promoting socialization and teamwork 1d ago Future of air warfare includes merger of manned and unmanned aircraft 1d ago Letter: Who will recognize what comes next? 1d ago Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? Tags Tags THEATER UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA GRAND FORKS By Pamela Knudson Pamela Knudson is a features and arts/entertainment writer for the Grand Forks Herald. She has worked for the Herald since 2011 and has covered a wide variety of topics, including the latest performances in the region and health topics. Pamela can be reached at [email protected] or (701) 780-1107. 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