‘1959 Pink Thunderbird' parks at Warwick Valley Winery

WARWICK-The Illustrious Theatre Company, in residence at the Warwick Valley Winery, will open its spring season with a production of "1959 Pink Thunderbird" by James McLure. Set in the heart of Texas just after the Vietnam War, the play consists of two one-act companion pieces, "Laundry and Bourbon" and "Lone Star." A black comedy about three Southern "good ole' boys," "Lone Star" premiered off-Broadway in 1979 at the Century Theatre and then joined up with "Laundry and Bourbon" at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton in 1980 under the title of "1959 Pink Thunderbird." "Laundry and Bourbon" shares a glimpse into the life of the wife of Roy (one of the good ole boys from Lonestar) and her two friends. It is the symbolism of the 1959 pink Thunderbird that ultimately unifies the two pieces. Playwright James McLure is a professor at the University of Montana as part of The Colony, a writer's development workshop. His other plays include "Thanksgiving," "The Day They Shot John Lennon," and "The River Cane." He has also written for the screen and television, including "Sangre," starring Holly Hunter and John Lithgow, "Kingfish," starring John Goodman and "Reckless," starring Aidan Quinn. ITC's production of "Laundry and Bourbon" is directed by Ashley Sampson, who played Beatrice in last summer's ITC production of Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing," and features Marianne Ciuffetelli (Amy Lee), Joan McCabe (Elizabeth), and Micki Shortess (Hattie). Jon Huberth of Monroe directs "Lone Star," with Glenn John Arnowitz as Ray, Ted O'Dell as Roy, and Kevin McDonnell as Cletis. Show dates are the weekends of April 22-24 and April 29-May 1. Curtain time on Friday and Saturday is 8 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. Seating, which is cabaret style, begins an hour before curtain; those planning to dine before the show should arrive 45 minutes before curtain time. Tickets are available at the winery, The Bookstore, 20 Main Street in Warwick, or by phone (845-258-4858); advance purchase is recommended. Tickets prices are $15, except seniors and children, 12 and under, are $13 (note: some language may be inappropriate for children). The Warwick Valley Winery is located at 114 Little York Road in Warwick, just off County Route 1 in the Pine Island region. Directions can be found at the winery's web site, wvwinery.com, or by calling 845-258-4858. For more information, call 973-764-4936.