'The Pull of the Moon' : Aug 7-16

16th Street Theatre is pleased to announce its production of New York Times bestselling novelist Elizabeth Berg's The Pull of the Moon as part of this season's WORDS IN MOTION festival. The Pull of the Moon will run August 7 - 16, 2008 at the Berwyn Cultural Center, with a press opening Thursday August 7 at 7:30 PM.

In The Pull of the Moon Nan embarks on a solo road trip. Told through journal entries and letters home to her husband Martin, Nan is determined to confront the middle of her life.

Directed by Kevin Christopher Fox The Pull of the Moon features Judy Blue as Nan. Supporting ensemble includes Anna Carini, Ed Flynn, Valerie Gorman and Don Blair as Martin.  Scenic design by Katie Schweiger. Light design by Mac Vaughey. Sound design by Barry Bennett.  Costume design by Stefin Steberl. 

Elizabeth Berg began writing almost as soon as she could hold a pencil. As child, she wrote poetry, and her first submission, at age nine, to American Girl magazine, was a poem called "Dawn" which was promptly rejected. Twenty-five years later, while working as a registered nurse, she thought she'd try her luck at being published again, and submitted an essay for a contest in Parents magazine.

Her luck changed with this submission, and she very soon left nursing to work full time writing magazine articles for various publications including women's magazines, The New York Times, and National Geographic Traveler. She worked for Special Reports magazine writing essays as well as writing and performing in videoessays that were shown nationwide.

In 1994, she published her first novel, Durable Goods, which received excellent reviews and won a American Library Association Award for best book of the year. Her second novel, Talk Before Sleep, was a New York Times bestseller and shortlisted for the American Booksellers Book of the Year award. Her novel Open House was an Oprah book club pick in 2000. She has now written sixteen novels, all of which were national or New York Times bestsellers. She was awarded the New England Booksellers Award for her body of work, has been honored by both the Boston and Chicago Public Libraries, and was given the Cancer Research Center's Illuminator award for shedding light on breast cancer. She has also written two short story collections and two non-fiction books. Three of her novels have become television movies. She is a popular speaker at venues all over the country, where she performs a retrospective of her work.

Elizabeth's novel The Pull of the Moon struck a chord with women of all ages, and was recently adapted for the stage. It was first seen in conjunction with the Indianapolis Humanities Fest, then seen as a staged reading at Circle Theatre in Forest Park directed by Ann Filmer in 2007.

WORDS IN MOTION is part of 16th Street Theater's Season One at the Berwyn Cultural Center, following Will Dunne's The Ascension of Carlotta and Teatro Luna's highly recommended hit MACHOS, which sold out its entire run in just a few weeks. Curated by Artistic Director Ann Filmer, the WORDS IN MOTION festival included Susan Hahn's The Scarlet Ibis and solo performer Arlene Malinowski's Aiming for Sainthood. Please visit www.16thstreettheater.org for further information.

"We are honored these three award-winning authors are bringing their words to 16th Street. Here they will collaborate with theater artists to stage their imagined worlds and become WORDS IN MOTION," says 16th Street Theater Artistic Director Ann Filmer.  "It's about the movement of the language, heightening the audience's imagination, and bringing out the beauty and strength of these female authors' words."

FACT SHEET

THE PULL OF THE MOON

by Elizabeth Berg,  the novelist

Leaving home to find her way back again…

THE PULL OF THE MOON
By Elizabeth Berg, New York Times bestselling author
Directed by Kevin Christopher Fox
 
WHEN:
August 7 - 16, 2008
Thursdays & Fridays @ 7:30 PM
Saturdays @ 5:00 PM & 8:00 PM
 
WHERE:
Berwyn Cultural Center, 6420 16th Street, Berwyn
 
TO PURCHASE TICKETS:
Tickets now available.
Online – www.16thstreettheater.org
In Person – at North Berwyn Park District, 1619 Wesley Ave., Berwyn
Ticket and Information Hotline – (708) 795-6704
 
HOW MUCH?:
General Admission: $16, Groups of 8+: $14
-  Please visit www.16thstreettheater.org  -

16th STREET THEATER is Berwyn's professional equity theater under the artistic direction of Ann Filmer. 2008 marks its first season.  

The BERWYN CULTURAL CENTER, a North Berwyn Park District managed facility, is dedicated to providing the highest quality and range of cultural arts programs, classes, workshops, events, and exhibitions providing opportunities for Berwyn residents and area artists.  The center will provide year-round programs engaging participants of all ages in visual, performing, literary, martial and media arts and 16th Street Theater's professional productions. The BCC also will serve as an incubator for emerging artists, artisans, writers, performers and musicians to develop and present new works.  The center is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life and sustainability of our local communities by advancing appreciation for the beauty of cultural diversity.

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