Actor Michael Pals has had plenty of laughs during early cast readings for a new run of “Bleacher Bums” at Chicago Street Theatre in Valparaiso.
“I’m a lifelong Cubs fan and love baseball,” Pals said.
“We have a good mix in this cast. Some Cubs fans, some White Sox fans and some people who aren’t all that much into baseball. But we all laughed when the script gives a line written about a score of ‘7 to 0,’ and it’s written or read as seven to ZERO because anyone who has ever heard a baseball score announced knows that would be said as seven to ‘O,’ as in pronounced as ‘Oh’ for anyone familiar at all with this game.”
The ballpark comedy “Bleacher Bums” runs Aug. 16-25, with performances at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays. It is the opening production for Chicago Street Theatre’s 70th season.
Written by Chicago actor Joe Montegna, this show became a Chicago storefront theater sellout for decades starting in the early 1980s, detailing the comedic antics of a bunch of varied but die-hard Cubs fans. The last time a production of it was staged in Northwest Indiana was April 2023, produced as a dinner show by Marian Theatre Guild.
Chicago Street Theatre’s updated variation has the show set on a sunny afternoon at Wrigley Field in the summer of 1998 as a mismatched group of fans are cheering and watching the Cubs take on the St. Louis Cardinals.
“My role of Decker was written with actor Joe Montegna basing it on himself and, of course, he played the role too,” Pals said.
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The rest of the cast is Erik Gollnick as Zig, a boisterous curmudgeon who likes to bet on Cubs games and his wife, Rose, played by Allison Granat; Melody, played by Ashleigh Happer, the sun-bathing blonde; Gina, a blind woman with a radio who gives her own play-by-plays, portrayed by Kimberly Davis,; Mav, the professional gambler, played by Lisa Mahaffa Thompson; and nerdy but hopeful Richie, played by Josh Thompson, who would love to get Melody’s phone number.
“Bleacher Bums” first launched in Chicago as a stage idea in 1977, written and produced by The Organic Theatre Company from an idea conceived by Mantegna.
“Chicago Street Theatre has opted to license and perform the revised 1998 version that mentions players from that year including Sammy Sosa, Mark Grace, as well as Cardinal star player Mark McGwire.
The production is directed by Mike Glorioso, who last directed “Next to Normal” for Chicago Street Theatre.
“The comedy in the show is for everyone,” Glorioso said.
“We know or have seen people like this group at ball games. We’ve built the bleachers and there is ivy all along the stage, and also the opportunity for the audience to buy concessions like peanuts, popcorn, Cracker Jacks and even cold beer. Only cash will be accepted.
Jeff Schultz, marketing chair for the theater company, said Cubs memorabilia will be displayed throughout the lobby with trivia. He said the cast will interact with the audience during a pre-show and rather than a traditional intermission, there will be a “seventh inning stretch.”
Pals, who is from Valparaiso, starred as Max in Chicago Street Theatre’s production of “The Play That Goes Wrong.”
“I loved being in my last production with Chicago Street Theatre last year, but being in this cast is even more fun because I love the Cubs so much,” Pals said.
“We’ve all been encouraged to bring in our own Cubs shirts and any baseball fan props. When I auditioned, I just wanted any of the roles. I feel honored to have the part of Decker, since it was created by Joe Mantegna for himself.”
Audience members should note the production contains adult language.
Chicago Street Theatre continues its 70th season with the English ghost story “The Woman in Black” Oct. 4-20.
Philip Potempa is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
‘Bleacher Bums’
When: Aug. 16-25
Where: Chicago Street Theatre, 154 W. Chicago St., Valparaiso
Cost: $22 adults, $20 for seniors, students and military
Information: 219-464-1636; Chicagostreet.org