Ron Schaeffer, director of the Black Hills Playhouse production of Neil Simon's "Brighton Beach Memoirs," has a pledge for people who go see the play: "I promise you tears and laughter both," he said.

"Memoirs" is Simon's autobiographical tale of 15-year-old Eugene Jerome, who wants to be a writer, and his family in 1937 Brooklyn, during the heart of the Depression.

"It's a very funny, warm, touching, family comedy," Schaeffer said. "Believe me, it will make everyone laugh before they cry in the end."

Grant Prewitt plays the role of Eugene, who narrates the story directly with the audience. Schaeffer said Simon's script is appropriate for almost any age group.

"It's just a sort of a valentine to his family as he was growing up," he said.

Schaeffer comes to the playhouse from Kansas City, where he teaches at the University of Missouri. He was the stage manager of the original production of "Hair" on Broadway for nearly three years and managed the stage for two seasons at the Lincoln Center, which included the production of "A Cry of Players" with Anne Bancroft and Frank Langella.

He also worked on "National Lampoon Lemmings" with John Belushi, Chevy Chase and Christopher Guest before they became well-known.

Black Hills Playhouse executive director Michael Burgraff said the playhouse is lucky to be able to open the theater's season with "Brighton Beach Memoirs." The performance rights to the play were recently suspended nationwide in anticipation of a new production of it on Broadway.

"We are excited to have the rights to it," Burgraff said. "We will be one of the last opportunities to see it outside of New York, N.Y."

If you go

What: "Brighton Beach Memoirs"

When: June 11-14 and 16-21. Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m.; matinees start at 2 p.m.

Where: Black Hills Playhouse in Custer State Park

Tickets: $15 to $18 adults, $5 to $10 for children. Call 255-4141 for reservations. A Custer State Park entrance sticker is required to attend performances.

Citizen Critic

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Call Eric Lochridge at 394-8321 or e-mail eric.lochridge@rapidcityjournal.com.