Welcome to Southern State Community College’s production of Larry Shue’s The Nerd. The play was first presented by the
Milwaukee Repertory Theatre in April, 1981, with Shue in the role of Willum Cubbert. The play has subsequently been
produced in a wide variety of theatres and countries, including a New York production in 1987 featuring Mark Hamill of Star
Wars fame.
Larry Shue was born in New Orleans on July 23, 1946, and grew up in Illinois. He received a B.F.A. from Illinois Wesleyan
University in 1969. After serving three years in the Army, he began his career in theatre. He joined the Milwaukee Repertory
Company as an actor, and by the 1980’s he was performing in his own plays (The Foreigner, The Nerd). He won two Obie
Awards and two New York Drama Critics Awards. Tragically, Mr. Shue’s life and career were cut short by a commuter
plane crash on September 23, 1985. It is unfortunate that we do not have more of Larry Shue’s work, the type of comedy
that really makes us laugh … farce …comedic chaos.
So sit back, relax, and enjoy the shtick…enjoy these crazy characters and unusual circumstances. Laugh out loud. Laugh
wildly. Laugh until your sides ache. Enjoy this gift from me, the cast and crew … and Larry Shue.
-Rainee Angles
Rainee Angles received her Master of Arts, with a major in theatre directing, from the Chicago College of Performing Arts
(Roosevelt University). She teaches speech and theatre classes and will direct two main stage productions each year.
Milwaukee Repertory Theatre in April, 1981, with Shue in the role of Willum Cubbert. The play has subsequently been
produced in a wide variety of theatres and countries, including a New York production in 1987 featuring Mark Hamill of Star
Wars fame.
Larry Shue was born in New Orleans on July 23, 1946, and grew up in Illinois. He received a B.F.A. from Illinois Wesleyan
University in 1969. After serving three years in the Army, he began his career in theatre. He joined the Milwaukee Repertory
Company as an actor, and by the 1980’s he was performing in his own plays (The Foreigner, The Nerd). He won two Obie
Awards and two New York Drama Critics Awards. Tragically, Mr. Shue’s life and career were cut short by a commuter
plane crash on September 23, 1985. It is unfortunate that we do not have more of Larry Shue’s work, the type of comedy
that really makes us laugh … farce …comedic chaos.
So sit back, relax, and enjoy the shtick…enjoy these crazy characters and unusual circumstances. Laugh out loud. Laugh
wildly. Laugh until your sides ache. Enjoy this gift from me, the cast and crew … and Larry Shue.
-Rainee Angles
Rainee Angles received her Master of Arts, with a major in theatre directing, from the Chicago College of Performing Arts
(Roosevelt University). She teaches speech and theatre classes and will direct two main stage productions each year.
