Over the River and Through the Woods opened at the John Houseman Theatre (450 West 42nd Street) on October 5, 1998. Under the direction of Joel Bishoff, the production won acclaim from critics and audiences, with the Daily News hailing it as "deliriously funny!" "Loaded with laughs every step of the way," said the Star-Ledger. "Joe DiPietro's new comedy didn't just have the audience laughing in glee. Many in the crowd were so convulsed they stomped the floor with both feet!" New York's longest-running comedy will celebrate its one-year anniversary on October 5, 1999.

In Over the River and Through the Woods, a young man's decision about his future sparks an eruption of unsolicited advice, matchmaking, general meddling and unending food from his four Italian-American grandparents who provide all the guilt, love, and exasperation that comes with being a member of any family.

The cast of River/Woods includes John La Gioia, Marie Lillo, Vera Lockwood, Heather Raffo, Allen Swift, and Paul Urcioli.

Joe DiPietro is the author and lyricist of I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, Off-Broadway's smash musical comedy, which is in its fourth sellout year at the Westside Theatre and has grossed over $15,000,000 so far in productions worldwide. Mr. DiPietro is the recipient of the 1997 William Inge Theatre Festival "New Voices in American Theatre" Award as well as the O'Neill Playwrights' Conference MacArthur Award for comic writing. Mr. DiPietro is currently rewriting the book to the classic Gershwin musical Oh, Kay!

In addition to I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, director Joel Bishoff's credits include Joe DiPietro's romantic comedy The Kiss at City Hall at the American Stage Company, and Ken Hill's Phantom of the Opera in Paris at the Opera Comique and on its European tour. Mr. Bishoff did the musical staging for the national tour of The Sound of Music with Marie Osmond, as well as for the New York City Opera production.

The playing schedule for Over the River and Through the Woods is Monday - Tuesday at 8 p.m., Friday - Saturday at 8 p.m., matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2:30 p.m., Sunday at 3 & 7:30 p.m. Box office (212) 239-6200. Group sales (212) 889-4300. (Info for this column provided by Bill Evans & Associates.)

Our very own reviewer, Wendy Guida, gave this show a huge thumbs up in her column last year. So, what are you waiting for?

Happy Birthday Over the River and Through the Woods. Many happy returns!

See you Sunday!

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