The Mendocino College Theatre Arts Department Presents Rumors, a farce, by Neil Simon, directed by Lucas Verbrugghe. The show runs for two weekends only, March 5th-15th, in the Mendocino College Center Theatre on the Ukiah Campus.
Neil Simon is a Tony and Pulitzer award winning playwright and one of the great American comedy writers of the 20th century, known for The Odd Couple, Brighton Beach Memoirs and Lost in Yonkers.
Rumors is a fast-paced farce that takes place in New York in the early 1990’s. It’s the tenth wedding anniversary of Charley, the Deputy Mayor of New York City, and his wife, Myra. But when their friends arrive to the party, they find Charley has been shot and his wife is nowhere to be found. The guests are quickly tangled in a web of impossible lies in an attempt to protect their hosts reputation and, by extension, their own.
The ensemble cast features ten talented actors that include current students, Mendocino College alums, and longtime veterans of the stage. Conservatory Cohort students Elizabeth Leach (the sharp-witted Claire Ganz) and Jadyn Musselman-Chalmers (the eager rookie Officer Pudney) return to the stage after their most recent roles in Big Love and Mendocino Stories respectively. Theatre Department newcomer Augusto Calderon makes his debut as the dogged Officer Welch joined by Joe Swearengin as the affable therapist Ernie Cusack and Ambreen Satia and Conservatory Cohort graduate Schuyler Marcier as the ever-on-the-rocks couple, Glenn and Cassie Cooper. Rounding out the cast are theatre veterans Bhavvy Ducharme (Lenny Ganz), Libby Guthrie (Cookie Cusack), Rod Grainger (Ken Gorman) and Kelly Kesey (Chris Gorman).
Due to some mature language, parental discretion is advised.
WHEN: March 5-15, 2026
• Thursday, March 5th • 7:30 PM • (pay what you wish preview)
• Friday, March 6th • 7:30 PM (Gala opening night, food and wine included in ticket price!)
• Saturday, March 7th • 7:30 PM
• Thursday, March 12th • 7:30 PM (special discount show, all tickets $10)
• Friday, March 13th • 7:30 PM
• Saturday, March 14th • 7:30 PM
• Sunday, March 15th • 2 PM (matinee performance)
WHERE: MENDOCINO COLLEGE, CENTER THEATRE
Center for the Visual & Performing Arts, 1000 Hensley Creek Road, Ukiah.
TICKETS: $20 General Admission. $15 Students and Seniors. Pay what you wish preview is Thursday, March 5th. Special discount show: Thursday, March 12th, all tickets $10. Advance tickets are available at the Mendocino Book Company in Ukiah, and online at www.ArtsMendocino.org.
For additional information, call (707) 468-3172.
