MOLINE, ILLINOIS (October 28, 2019) — The Black Box Theatre will present the area premiere of “Loser’s Bracket” by Clay and Nate Sander. The Sanders were raised in Camanche, Iowa and draw on their small-town upbringing to bring the comedy to life.
The plot revolves around Tiny" Willits and Ethan Banks, who spend most of their free time at Boo's Tavern in the small, working-class community of Downs Moor. Boo's co-owner (along with bar namesake Boo Koontz) is a know-it-all loudmouth named Gus "Hitch" Bigwood. Hitch has a noticeable limp due to a forklift accident at the town factory 10 years earlier, which got him a massive settlement, a large part of which he spent on an antique automobile. Unbeknownst to Ethan and Tiny, Hitch has been faking his limp for the past decade to avoid paying back the insurance company for the fraudulent claim. And what these three plan form the comedy of “Loser’s Bracket.”
The play had two successful runs in Chicago, first in 2002 and remounted at the Theatre Building in 2004. The Chicago Tribune said “The play hums with the kind of quirky, blue-collar, sports-loving bravado that made Bleacher Bums a Chicago classic.”
The Black Box cast list includes Brant Peitersen as Hitch Bigwood, Tony Trulson as Ethan Banks, Emmalee Hilburn as Boo, Mark Kulhavy as Thomas “Tiny” Willits, Kevin Keck as Sheriff Terry Edwards, Mike Richards as Rick Potts (and others) and Kelci Eaton as Trisha Swanson (and other). The comedy is directed by David Bonde with set design by David Miller.
“Loser’s Bracket” opens November 15 and runs through November 24. Tickets are $16 except on $13 Thursdays. For more information or to purchase tickets visit theblackboxtheatre.com.
The Black Box Theatre is a non-profit entity located in downtown Moline on 5th Avenue.
