Never get God Angry When Someone’s Standing Under a Tree ‘Neil Simons God’s Favorite’ at Long Beach Playhouse: April 5 – May 3, 2025

Long Beach, CA, Neil Simon is one of America’s best-known playwrights. His work is known for his comedic approach to serious situations. In God’s Favorite, successful businessman Joe Benjamin is a modern-day Job with a loving wife, two clueless but supportive younger children, and a household staff. But he is exasperated with his wise-cracking and seemingly apathetic oldest son. Just when it seems things couldn’t get any worse, he is visited by Sidney Lipton, a.k.a. A Messenger from God (and compulsive film buff), with a mission: test Joe’s faith and report back to “the Boss”.

“This play has been described as one of Simon’s most imaginative plays,” said Sean Gray, Artistic Director for the Playhouse. “Although most of Simon’s plays are about average people in average domestic situations, with the intervention of a messenger from God as central to the story, the notion of average is largely cast aside.” 

Madison Mooney, Playhouse Executive Director, adds, “We know our audiences enjoy comedies. Simon never fails to infuse his plays with plenty of verbal zingers that audiences enjoy. This cast and director are particularly good at zinger-delivery!”

Gray selected James Rice to direct this show. Rice is a veteran actor and director with 37 years of experience and over 100 productions in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Rice said he was drawn to the question posed by the play, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” and the way Simon answered it with wit and humor.

The show’s eight-member cast is a mix of returning and debuting actors. Returning are Lee Samuel Tanng, Amanda Karr, Charlie Rodriguez, Jessica Plotin, Stephen Saatjian and Geraldine Fuentes. Making their debuts are Samantha Cristol and Sean Farrell.

Mooney says, “This show is funny, touching, thought-provoking, and supremely entertaining. We hope you will come and see the show!”

SPECIAL EVENTS FOR THIS PLAY:

- Pay what you can Thursday, April 3 – the community can see this production for whatever they can afford

- Ten Dollar Preview Friday April 4 – all tickets are $10.00

- Opening Night Champagne Reception with cast on April 5 - Tickets are $35.00 Sponsored by The Port of Long Beach

TICKET PRICES

Thursday and Friday: Adults are $25.00, Seniors $20.00, and Students $20.00

Saturday and Sunday: Adults are $30.00, Seniors $25.00, and Students $20.00.

Tickets are available at www.lbplayhouse.org, or by calling 562-494-1014, option 1.

To request an interview with the director, cast members or reserve your media tickets to this performance, please send an email to: [email protected]. Media tickets will not be available past the third weekend of performances.

Long Beach Playhouse is located at 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach, CA, 90804, right across from the Long Beach Recreation golf course. The Playhouse is community-supported theatre with programs and events that cut across age, gender, ethnic, and cultural boundaries.

Performances are 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. The box office is open Wednesday-Saturday from 3:00-8:00 pm and Sundays from 1:00-2:00 pm on scheduled matinees.