Site-specific OF MICE AND MEN at Serenbe's Working Farm

In a story about friendship, fate and fortitude, two farmhands wander through California's Salinas Valley, leaning on each other to find their way in this powerful adaptation of John Steinbeck's quintessential novel, OF MICE AND MEN. The esteemed Jenny Lord of The Juilliard School will direct Serenbe favorites Daniel Parvis and Blake Burgess, cast as George and Lennie, the iconic duo of witty small guy and loafing giant. View lush Serenbe, transformed to a working farm of the depression-era dustbowl, with live horses wandering about the rustic barn and stark minimalism artfully at play. The bucolic barn setting lends itself to an interpretation that is all about relationships - stripped of material means and in the direst of circumstances, watch as two men overcome seemingly impossible odds to reach their destinies.

"Brian and his team are building an incredible company," says the play's director, Jenny Lord. "Of Mice and Men is a perfect match for their site-specific work. The actors have been diving into this iconic American play and discovering it anew for themselves. When we rehearse outside, it has an incredible effect--the trees, the sounds --because the natural world is such an integral part of Steinbeck's play. In the story, nature is a balm, but it's also ruthless; life on this kind of ranch in the Depression was rough. It's wonderful to see the actors embodying the loneliness, physical hardship, and quest for connection that are at the heart of this play. "

"Having Jenny Lord as our director is an absolute gift," says Playhouse Founder & Artistic/Executive Director Brian Clowdus. "I got to know her years ago when we worked at The Shakespeare Theatre Company in DC and was immediately taken by her eye for detail and ability to breathe new life into classics. Her national experience at Juilliard and on Broadway brings a new level of expertise to Serenbe Playhouse and we are honored to have her with us, along with her husband, Broadway vet Michael Rudko. NYC has truly come to Serenbe for this production."

The ensemble, led by Parvis (A Streetcar Named Desire ) and Burgess (The Sleepy Hollow Experience ), includes Atlanta favorites Jonathan Horne as Carlson, Bryan Brendle (Ten Mile Lake ) as Slim, and Daviorr Snipes as Crooks. The cast also features Broadway vet Michael Rudko as Candy. The rest of the ensemble is rounded out by Brad Brinkley as The Boss, Andy Terwilliger as Curley, Nicole Carpenter as Curley's Wife, and Erik Abrahamsen as Whit.

The ensemble will also feature two four legged actors! The Playhouse is honored to be partnering with LifeLine Animal Project, manager of Fulton County Animal Services, to work with recently rescued dogs Hector and Autumn for this production. Hector and Autumn are being fostered in the Serenbe community and will both be making their stage debuts with the Playhouse. Beyond adding an incredible touch of realism and heart that only Serenbe Playhouse can provide, we hope to raise awareness of dogs, both young and old, in need of homes across Atlanta, and to help promote the LifeLine principle: adopt, don't shop!

Lord leads a creative team that includes costume design from Jamie Bullins, lighting design from Joseph Monahan III, properties design from Stephanie Polhemus, fight choreography from Christen Orr, whip choreography Jonathan Horne, and vocal coaching from Daniel Burns.

For more information about Serenbe Playhouse and to purchase tickets, please visit www.serenbeplayhouse.com or call 770.463.1110. You can follow Serenbe Playhouse on Facebook, @OnstageSerenbe on Twitter, and SerenbePlayhouse on Instagram.

Show dates and timse for Of Mice and Men are Wednesdays Sundays at 8pm, June 9th - June 26th at The Hay Barn in Serenbe (10950 Hutchesons Ferry Road, Chattahoochee Hills, GA 30268). Tickets are $30 adults and $25 for students/seniors.

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