Bremen High School will present the comedy farce, “The Matchmaker”, written by Thornton Wilder, Friday, Nov. 20 and Saturday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the Bowen Auditorium. This historically-based comedy was originally produced as “The Merchant of Yonkers” in 1938 and was adapted for the Edinburgh Festival as “The Matchmaker” in 1954. The  1958 film version, adapted by John Michael Hayes and directed by Joseph Anthony, starred  Shirley Booth, Anthony Perkins, Shirley MacLaine, Paul Ford and Robert Morse. The play also served as the basis for the popular Broadway and film musical “Hello Dolly,” starring Carol Channing and Barbara Streisand. The play is produced with cooperation and permission from Samuel French, Inc., of New York.

According to Don Harrison, Bremen’s fall play director, “the students have been working very hard since the beginning of September to bring this classic story to the stage. We have looked for ways to expand the cast and give opportunities for more students to be involved in this production.”
Bremen’s cast of 20 students includes Shelby Dirrim as Dolly Levi,  Patrick Donaghey as Horace Vandergelder, Holly Prawat as Ermengarde, Mike Locke as Ambrose Kemper, Christina Marquez as Gertrude, Eric Reyes as Cornelius Hackl, Jarred Fitch as Barnaby Tucker, Mitch Andrews as Malachi Stack, Paige Weldy as Mrs. Irene Molloy, Taylor Als as Minnie, Kristen Ahlenius as Minerva, Lewis Hackett as Joe Scanlon, Dillon Doll as Rudolph, Octavio Contreras as August, Rachelle Tatich as Mrs. Flora Van Huysen, Kara Miller as the Cook, Taylor Sears as the Maid, Aaron McKenzie as the Cabman, Alex Buck as Flossie and LaVonne Sliter as the production assistant.
Tickets for the play will be on sale each evening at the door and the cost will be $5 per person.