Production History

Neil Simon’s Rumors opened CST’s Season 9 (1992–1993) in September 1992. The farce follows four couples arriving for an anniversary party where their host has suffered a gunshot wound and his wife is missing. Their increasingly elaborate attempts to conceal the situation unravel as more guests—and eventually the police—arrive.

CST Connections

This was Rhonda Clark’s third consecutive fall season opener, following Nebraska (1990) and Steel Magnolias (1991). She subsequently directed the Season 10 opener, Prelude to a Kiss (1993).
CST revived Rumors as its Season 15 opener in 1998, identified in the archive as Rumors (II).
Vikki Simer later played Kate Hough in P.S. Your Cat Is Dead! (1993), Emma Kent in Murder by Misadventure (1994), and Kathleen in Park Your Car in Harvard Yard (1995).
Nick Backes later directed Pack of Lies (1997) and played Adrian in Private Eyes (1998).
Kelly Morris played Julie Swift in Nebraska (1990); Richard A. Buswell later played Major Robbie Ross in Our Country’s Good (1993).
Terry Veal later directed Murder by Misadventure (1994), which featured Steve Vann as Harold Kent.
Ray Paolino later directed Park Your Car in Harvard Yard (1995), featuring fellow Rumors cast member Vikki Simer.
Steve Estes, Skip Bachman, Fred Kirkland, and Patrick Isaac also contributed to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the next production in Season 9.
Richard Charnay and Stephanie Telleen previously handled lighting and control-booth duties respectively for Nebraska (1990).
Mary Freeh later played Liz Morden and contributed costumes for Our Country’s Good (1993), and designed costumes for Pack of Lies (1997) and Proposals (1999).

Press and Photography

“Carpenter Square Announces Lineup” — The Oklahoman, August 21, 1992, season announcement.
“Carpenter Square’s ‘Rumors’: Almost Anything Goes for Fall” — The Oklahoman, August 30, 1992, reported preview lead; exact headline and article text remain unverified.
“Simon Farce ‘Rumrs’ Opens Theater Season” — The Oklahoman, September 9, 1992, reported review by Rick Rogers; not independently checked.

Acknowledgments

Special thanks identified in the supplied record: Nick Backes; Renee Preftakes.

Licensing

Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc., according to the supplied original CST record. Current performance licensing is available through Concord Theatricals.

THEATRE UP CLOSE & PERSONAL

Fred Kirkland