Bethesda, MD. Round House Theatre closes its 2006/2007 season with “Summer Of ‘42,” a charming new musical based on the coming-of-age novel and film that became cultural icons of the 1970s. Adapted for the stage by noted Broadway actor, Hunter Foster and David Kirshenbaum, it tells the story of three teenagers struggling to lose their innocence as they spend the summer of 1942 on an island beach off the New England Coast.

Directed by Meredith McDonough, “Summer Of ‘42" sheds new light on the important lessons of life, love and the scope of human compassion.

“Summer Of ”42" runs May 30- June 24 at Round House Theatre, 4545 East-West Highway, Bethesda. Tickets are $25-55 and may be purchased by phone at 240- 644-1100, online at www.roundhousetheatre.org ttp://www.roundhousetheatre.org, or at the Round House Theatre box office in Bethesda.

Set in the summer of 1942, while men are lining up in droves to join the army, three fifteen-year-old boys begin a summer they are not soon to forget. Accustomed to spending the summers together on this New England island, Hermie(Ryan Nealy), Oscy(Michael Vitaly Sazonov), and Benjie(David Mclellan) reconvene to find that this summer things are different than they were just months before. Girls have taken priority over sports and childish pranks, and the boys set off to befriend a trio of high school girls they meet on the beach. While dates to the movies and beach parties satisfy Benjie and Oscy, Hermie embarks on an adventure of his own- befriending Dorothy(Nancy Snow), a beautiful and mysterious newlywed who is left alone when her husband goes off to fight World War II.

As Hermie’s budding friendship with Dorothy escalates, he makes a shocking discovery that forces him to confont adulthood while making certain that this particular summer is one he will always remember.

Based on the novel and screenplay by Herman Raucher, this new Musical adaptation, with its cast of nine and six-piece band, breathes new life into the iconic coming-of-age story made popular by the 1970s film and subsequent novel. With sweeping ballads peppered with 1940s style up-tempo numbers, David Kirshenbaum’s score takes the audience on a remarkable journey of right mix of adolescent misadventures and heartfelt moments. Other cast members are Katherine Ross Wolfe as Aggie, Jennifer Timberlake as Miriam, Meghan Touey as Gloria, and the brilliant song and dance man, Will Gartshore as Pete, who was in the Round House Theatre’s production of “Orson’s Shadow” last winter.

Director Meredith McDonough is thrilled to be directing this production, saying, “It is an exciting and vibrant exploration of that pivotal time in life where ou find your adult voice.” Blake Robinson, Round House’s Producing Artistic Director, adds, “For many baby boomers out there, this movie was a defining moment of adolescence. This new musical version is funny, wistful, and entertaining from start to end."