More News

"Same Time, Next Year," which opens Friday at the Bowie Playhouse, explores the changes and shifts in a relationship between two people.

The play highlights some changes and shifts for Bowie Community Theatre, too.

It comes as John Nunemaker, the theater company's new president, aims to diversify Bowie Community Theatre's dramatic offerings, net new audience members and streamline the ticket purchasing process—not to mention offer a summer show for the first time in years.

"The playhouse just happened to have a summer slot open, so it worked out nicely," Nunemaker said.

The play, written in 1975 by Bernard Slade, tells the story of a New Jersey accountant and a California housewife, both married to other people, who meet in Northern California in February 1951. They have an affair, and agree to meet the same time the following year for a romantic tryst.

They continue doing so for the next two dozen years, despite being married to other people and having six children between them.

The play was made into a movie of the same name starting Alan Alda and Ellen Burstyn, and Nunemaker said audience members familiar with the movie will especially enjoy seeing it performed live.

"A lot of our audience members will also enjoy the time frame, getting to see them go from a young couple in 1951 to an older couple in 1975," Nunemaker said.

That includes references to major cultural and historical events.

"It starts in a very conservative time, and you see how they change as culture changes around them," said Linda Kirby, the director. "It really shows how people change as times change."

But Kirby said younger audience members will find plenty of universal themes in the unconventional love story.

"Every one of us can make some sort of connection to the characters," Kirby said. "Most of us haven't had an affair, but we can all relate to the excitement of meeting someone for the first time. They talk about losing a son, and everyone has lost someone important in their lives. Most of us can also relate to the everyday events in their lives, and in how we change as we grow up."

Kirby also said though the subject matter lends itself to poignant moments, and the play includes some tragedy, "there are actually a lot of scenes that are very funny."

The actors, Ben Brunnschweiler and Lori "Marky" Markowitz, have both performed with Bowie Community Theatre previously, and Nunemaker said they both shine in "Same Time, Next Year."

"I happened to stop in during a rehearsal, when they were in the middle of a really touching scene, and I just had to stop what I was doing to sit down and watch them," Nunemaker said. "That was just in the beginning of rehearsals. When actual performances start, they are going to bring everyone who comes to see the play right into that world."

IF YOU GO

Same Time, Next Year

Where: Bowie Playhouse, 16500 Whitemarsh Park Drive.

When: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays,

2 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 14.

Tickets: $15, $10 for seniors and

students, $12 for groups.

Box office: 301-805-0219,

www.bctheatre.com