GENEVA, IL – The Geneva Underground Playhouse will present
its opening show in downtown Geneva, “The Best Man,” on Friday, May 1.

Performances will be May 1-3, 8-10 and 15 and 16. Two of the
Sunday performances will be afternoon matinees. Evening shows begin at 8 p.m.,
and matinees at 2 p.m.

The shows will represent the first in the Geneva Underground
Playhouse at 524 W. State St. here, in the same building with The Urban Grille
restaurant.

THE CAST:

Steve Lord   - Secretary William Russell
Thom Holtquist   - Senator Joseph Cantwell
Rick Pierce    - Dick Jensen
Eric Schwartz    -  President Hockstader
Cindy Pierce    - Alice Russell
Lori Dowd   - Mabel Cantwell
Millie Collins Schwartz  -  Mrs. Sue Ellen Gamadge
Dean Sasman    - Sheldon Marcus
Dana Knudson   - Blades
Jerome Urbik    - Senator Carlin
Nora Manca   - Catherine
Kris Keef   - Dr. Artinian/Reporter#3
Pat Lord   - Reporter#2/Commentator VO

Directed by Carol Bair Calzaretta

The new playhouse is a result of work by the Board of
Directors of the theater, which has as its parent organization, the First
Street Playhouse Institute of Theater, a 501 3 (c) not-for-profit organization.
It is the heir to the former First Street Playhouse in Batavia, which closed at
the end of 2007.

The playhouse also opens thanks to cooperation from the city
of Geneva and the Geneva Cultural Arts Commission, as well as from building
owner Joe Stanton.

“We have received so much community support, which is
fitting, because we intend to become a good member of the community,” said Eric
Schwartz, executive director.

Joining Schwartz, of DeKalb, in the theater’s management,
are Artistic Director Carol Bair-Calzaretta, of Schaumburg ,
and Technical Director Eric Prebys, of Batavia .

The other board members are: Steve Lord, president; Marie
Boian-Meyer, vice president; Donna Latham, secretary; Lori Dowd; and Brenda
Renaud.

“The Best Man” is an award-winning play in which Vidal
explores universal, timeless truisms about corruption, humanity and the use of
dirty tricks in politics. It was written about the early 1960s, another time
when the political landscape was similar to today.

Tickets are $20, with the price of $15 for senior citizens
65 and older, and $15 for students. For ticket information, contact the
theater, at 630-232-7683 or e-mail genevaplayhouse@ yahoo.com.