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Hub City Players invites audiences to celebrate one of America’s most beloved comedies this summer as Neil Simon’s classic masterpiece, The Odd Couple, takes the stage July 30–August 2 at the Paper Warehouse Theatre inside the Rebecca Stark Johnson Community Arts Center. Tickets and additional information are available through Hub City Players.
Presented as part of the nationwide America 250 celebration, the production highlights a timeless piece of American storytelling that has entertained audiences for more than six decades through its celebrated Broadway run, iconic film adaptation, and beloved television series. Filled with razor-sharp wit, unforgettable characters, and heartfelt humor, The Odd Couple remains one of the defining comedies of the American stage.
The production stars local favorites Nolan Lee as carefree sportswriter Oscar Madison and Landon Morrow as the famously meticulous Felix Unger. The duo previously delighted audiences in Hub City Players’ hit production of The Play That Goes Wrong, bringing the precise comedic chemistry essential to Neil Simon’s rapid-fire dialogue.
Making his Hub City Players directorial debut is longtime Pine Belt theatre favorite Joe VanZandt, whose decades of performance and educational experience bring fresh energy and insight to the enduring classic.
First premiering on Broadway in 1965, The Odd Couple became a cultural phenomenon through the legendary performances of Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau in the film adaptation and later through the wildly successful television sitcom. The story of two mismatched roommates navigating friendship, frustration, and everyday life continues to resonate across generations, offering audiences laughter rooted in recognizable humanity and connection.
The intimate setting of the Paper Warehouse Theatre places audiences just steps away from the action, creating an immersive theatrical experience where every comic exchange and emotional moment lands with immediacy. The production continues Hub City Players’ tradition of presenting high-quality live theatre experiences for the Pine Belt community.
Fresh off the success of Disney’s Newsies during FestivalSouth, Hub City Players continues its acclaimed run of productions that have included Steel Magnolias, Little Shop of Horrors, and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Known for combining professional-quality productions with strong community engagement, the organization has become one of the region’s leading performing arts groups.
As communities across the country commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, The Odd Couple offers audiences an opportunity to experience a true American theatrical classic live on stage — a reminder of the enduring power of humor, friendship, and gathering together as a community.
ABOUT THE HUB CITY PLAYERS
The Hub City Players LLC was formed in 2012 by Mike Lopinto for an original FestivalSouth production of LOL: A Showtune Cabaret. The event was a smashing success and led to the wildly popular series of comedy cabarets. Along with founding member Tammy Mansfield, who also arranges and music directs many of the productions, the Hub City Players have created a formula that employs some of the area’s best singers, actors, and dancers. With fully staged productions of Jersey Boys, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, A Tuna Christmas, The Play That Goes Wrong, Sister Act, Steel Magnolias, James and the Giant Peach, Rock of Ages, and gala and fundraising events including Brewaha, Brewhoho, The Greatest Showman Sing-a-Long, Rockin’ Christmas for Extra Table, and partnerships with the Saenger Theater for numerous sing-a-long events, the troupe has earned a devoted following for their exceptional performances. The production of James and the Giant Peach won The American Prize in Musical Theatre in 2019. The prodction of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast took third place in the American Prize in Musical Theatre in 2024 and Mike Lopinton was honored with the Charles Nelson Riley Prize from The American Prize in Musical Theatre for his dedicated body of work. www.hubcityplayers.com
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