Bleacher Bums was a play written in 1977 in a collaborative effort between Chicago’s Organic Theatre Company and actor Joe Mantegna. In 1979 the play was tapped for PBS and eventually became a made-for-TV movie adaption in 2002. This play takes place in the stands of Chicago’s Wrigley Field, the home of the Chicago Cubs. The whole play takes place during a Sunday afternoon game with Cubs fans in the stands. Most of them are regulars there and know each other. That doesn’t mean they necessarily like or tolerate one another. Just like in any real stadium, drinks are served, hotdogs are eaten, and songs are sung all to cheer on their beloved Cubs.
Hamline University put on this play in May of 1982. It was staged in the Bush Ballroom. This play was directed by William Kimes and combined his two loves of theater and the Chicago Cubs. The play surrounds an actual game that took place in 1977 between the Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals. The hope of this play was to make the audience feel and believe that they were actually in Wrigley Field. The set design was a section of bleachers complete with ivy, grass, and brick walls to mimic the real Wrigley Stadium. The audience was shown to their seats by ushers in uniforms from Wrigley Field. The audience at the beginning of each showing would sing the national anthem, hear ballpark music, and have the ability to purchase pop, hot dogs, peanuts, and other Cubs-themed souvenirs.
Note for Bridget:
I’m giving you the cast list for this show. The group shots seem to have the whole cast. The first picture is all of the ushers but I have no idea what order they are in. The Vendors and announcers are not pictures but let me know if you want their names as well.
Cast: John Behr, Nancy Sadusky, Katy Dwyer, Steve Lebens, Dave Warnest, Steve Koski,
Glen Stone, Dan Lange, Mary Leonard.
Head Usher: Jim WallaceUshers: Mike Chiapetta, Kathy Kansas, Jeff Keehn.
Hamline University put on this play in May of 1982. It was staged in the Bush Ballroom. This play was directed by William Kimes and combined his two loves of theater and the Chicago Cubs. The play surrounds an actual game that took place in 1977 between the Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals. The hope of this play was to make the audience feel and believe that they were actually in Wrigley Field. The set design was a section of bleachers complete with ivy, grass, and brick walls to mimic the real Wrigley Stadium. The audience was shown to their seats by ushers in uniforms from Wrigley Field. The audience at the beginning of each showing would sing the national anthem, hear ballpark music, and have the ability to purchase pop, hot dogs, peanuts, and other Cubs-themed souvenirs.
Note for Bridget:
I’m giving you the cast list for this show. The group shots seem to have the whole cast. The first picture is all of the ushers but I have no idea what order they are in. The Vendors and announcers are not pictures but let me know if you want their names as well.
Cast: John Behr, Nancy Sadusky, Katy Dwyer, Steve Lebens, Dave Warnest, Steve Koski,
Glen Stone, Dan Lange, Mary Leonard.
Head Usher: Jim WallaceUshers: Mike Chiapetta, Kathy Kansas, Jeff Keehn.
© Hamline University Theatre