Bus Stop

By
William Inge

Directed by
Ryan Bergeron

Assistant Directed by
Irene Molnar

Costumed by
Katie Atkinson

Technical Direction by
Tim Anderson

 

February 21, 2025–March 8, 2025

Broadview Heights Spotlights Cultural Arts Building


In the middle of a howling snowstorm, a bus out of Kansas City pulls up at a cheerful roadside diner. All roads are blocked, and four or five weary travelers are going to have to hole up until morning.

Cherie, a nightclub chanteuse in a sparkling gown and a seedy fur-trimmed jacket, is the passenger with most to worry about. She’s been pursued, made love to and finally kidnapped by a twenty-one-year-old cowboy with a ranch of his own and the romantic methods of an unusually headstrong bull. The belligerent cowhand is right behind her, ready to sling her over his shoulder and carry her, alive and kicking, all the way to Montana. Even as she’s ducking out from under his clumsy but confident embraces, and screeching at him fiercely to shut him up, she pauses to furrow her forehead and muse, “Somehow deep inside of me I got a funny feeling I’m gonna end up in Montana …”

As a counterpoint to the main romance, the proprietor of the cafe and the bus driver at last find time to develop a friendship of their own; a middle-age scholar comes to terms with himself; and a young girl who works in the cafe also gets her first taste of romance.

There’s also a 1956 movie version starring Marilyn Monroe.

Cast

Addie Wisniewski, Elma Duckworth
Jenilee Taylor, Grace Hoylard
Greg Mandryk, Will Masters
Reilly Davidson, Cherie
Ray Conrad, Dr. Gerald Lyman
Daniel Hunsicker, Carl
Ryan Merriman, Virgil Blessing
Jordan Potter, Bo Decker

About Our Coffeehouse

As the Spotlights’ annual coffeehouse production, the evening features a complimentary beverage bar (non-alcoholic). The coffee house setting also offers luscious desserts for purchase during intermission (cash only, please).

Dessert and beverage sponsors include Creekside Restaurant, Nothing Bundt Cakes, and Caruso's Coffee.

Table seating is assigned in order of purchase. The Spotlights' 2019 Expansion is transformed into a coffeehouse-style venue with table seating on three levels.  Seating requests may be entered on the order form (i.e.  "Please sit us at a table with the Smiths," "We prefer House Left," or "We need to be on the ground level.")  We will do our best to accommodate all requests.  

Tickets are now on sale.  Click on the date/time below to purchase.

Performances