Find a Match the Old-Fashioned Way at GreenMan Theatre

Elmhurst, IL -- GreenMan Theatre takes us back to a time when people who wanted to meet someone special couldn't log onto Match.com or visit eHarmony.com. This is a time before any .com existed. Dolly Levi is a matchmaker in the turn of the 20th century New York, and she has to find matches for her clients the old-fashioned way without the aid of social networking media.

In GreenMan's spring production of Thornton Wilder's "The Matchmaker," Dolly knows who the best match for wealthy widower Horace Vandergelder is--it's Dolly herself. But before she can arrange her own match, Dolly has to deal with Horace calling on prospective bride Irene Molloy. Dolly also has to consider Horace's niece Ermengarde, who wants to marry artist Ambrose Kemper. The good thing for Dolly is that Ambrose also wants to marry Ermengarde. The bad thing is that Horace forbids the union. As Horace and Dolly leave for New York, Horace entrusts the care of the store to his employees Cornelius and Barnaby, who promptly close the store and decide to seek adventure in New York themselves. As fate would have it, Cornelius and Barnaby spot Horace on the street and have to hide in Irene's hat shop. Cornelius is taken with Irene, and he pretends to be wealthy to impress her. His plan backfires when Irene and her assistant Minnie insist that Cornelius and Barnaby take them to a fancy restaurant for dinner. This would be bad enough for the clerks as they have little money, but the comic sparks fly when they all end up in the same restaurant in which Horace will be eating. Dolly arrives just before Ermengarde and Ambrose appear. When the dust settles, will Dolly be able to make matches for anyone?


"The Matchmaker" is directed by GreenMan Artistic Director David Soria (Lombard) and features Jim Bruner (Schaumburg), Christopher Cavanaugh (Chicago), Dana Clouser (Oak Park), Rance Clouser (Oak Park), Vicky Giannini (Chicago), Lynn Sciaraffa Homeier (Elmhurst), Tammy Job (Evanston), Stan Kosek (Villa Park), Harold LeBoyer (Rolling Meadows), Nancy Mesenbrink (Glen Ellyn), Elizabeth Owsley (Streamwood), Mary Pavia (Downers Grove), Mary-Carol Riehs (Elmhurst), Erick Sosa (Franklin Park), and Carl Zeitler (Glen Ellyn).

"The Matchmaker" opens on Friday April 20 and runs for 3 weekends until Sunday May 6. Friday and Saturday performances begin at 7:30 pm and Sunday matinees begin at 2 pm.

Tickets are $17 for adults and $15 for seniors/students.

For more information or to reserve tickets call 630-464-2646.

All performances take place at Asbury Hall at the First United Methodist Church at 232 S. York in Elmhurst. Free parking is available.

GreenMan programs are partially supported by a grant by the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.