WSC Theatre Downtown - The Gin Game at Piccolo’s 

Jack Shea, the artistic director of Actors & Company, received the rights this week to the acclaimed Broadway hit, The Gin Game by D.J. Coburn. It replaces Riches which was slated to be the second production of this summer’s Theatre Downtown series, sponsored by the Westfield State College Foundation at the Stage at Piccolo’s 110 Elm Street. This poignant comedy-drama plays Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., July 29 – August 1 and August 5-8. Like A Walk in the Woods, the first offering of the Theatre Downtown series, The Gin Game received both the Tony Award and the Pulitizer Prize. It first starred Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy on Broadway in 1997 and later Charles Durning and Julie Harris in the 1997 revival. The Gin Game follows the developing relationship of Fonsia Dorsey and Weller Martin, two feisty senior citizens, who play a series of gin games on a sunlit porch and in the process discover the their similarities and differences, sharing stories about their lives, their children and their fears of growing old. The play features Jack Shea and Ashley Shea who received accolades for their roles in A Walk in the Woods. The Gin Game is made possible in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a program of the Westfield Arts Council and is produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. Tickets may be reserved by calling 413-562-2277. Tickets will also be sold at the door prior to each performance. All tickets are $15. Patrons wishing to dine at Piccolo’s prior to a performance can make dinner reservations by calling 413-572-1433. Reservations are advised for 6 p.m. so that patrons may make the 8 p.m. curtain.