Rep Stage Concludes 25th Anniversary Season With TRUE WEST By Sam Shepard

Rep Stage, the professional regional theatre in residence at Howard Community College (HCC), brings its 25th season to a close with Sam Shepard's "True West." Founded in 1993, Rep Stage's opening production featured director Vincent Lancisi, who has returned to helm "True West." This production also features Rep Stage's founding director Valerie Lash in the role of Mom.

Lancisi, Everyman Theatre's founder and artistic director, has a long-standing connection to Rep Stage, having directed its first show, "Marvin's Room," and the 1994 Rep Stage and Everyman Theatre co-production of Sam Shepard's "Buried Child." For Rep Stage's Producing Artistic Director Joseph W. Ritsch, "Having Vinny come back to Rep Stage is such an honor. Not only is he a dear personal friend and mentor, his history with Rep Stage and his love of Shepard made this collaboration the perfect match."

In "True West," well-educated Austin and thieving con man Lee, estranged brothers from different worlds, reunite in their mom's California kitchen, where Austin is working on his screenplay. When Lee comes up with his own idea and steals much more than just the neighbors' television, challenges are issued, many drinks are downed, and the siblings find that they might not be such opposites after all. Shepard's explosive, darkly funny American classic is a tale of sibling rivalry, Hollywood producers and stolen toasters.

"It's clear, funny, naturalistic. It's also opaque, terrifying, surrealistic. If that sounds contradictory, you're on to one aspect of Shepard's winning genius; the ability to make you think you're watching one thing while at the same time he's presenting another." - San Francisco Chronicle.

"True West" opens April 26, 2018, with a limited run through May 13, in the Studio Theatre of the Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center (HVPA) on the campus of HCC, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, Maryland. There will be post-show discussions on April 29 and May 11. Rep Stage will also hold a pre-show lecture prior to the 2 p.m. performance on May 12.

Tickets are $40 for general admission, $35 for seniors and the military, and $15 for students with a current ID. Thursdays are $10 performances. For tickets and additional information, visit www.repstage.org or call the box office at 443-518-1500.

CAST
Tim Getman*: Lee
Daniel Corey**: Austin
James Whalen*: Saul Kimmer
Valerie Lash: Mom

ARTISTIC TEAM
Written by: Sam Shepard
Directed by: Vincent M. Lancisiv
Set Design: Nathaniel Sinnott++
Lighting Design: Joseph Walls
Sound Design: William D'Eugenio
Costume Design: Jessica Welch
Properties Design: Mollie Singer
Stage Manager: Julie DeBakey Smith*
Assistant Stage Manager: Brittany Federici**

* Members Actor's Equity Association
** Equity Membership Candidate
++ Member of United Scenic Artists, IATSE
vMember of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society

ABOUT REP STAGE
Rep Stage, the professional regional theatre in residence at Howard Community College, is celebrating its 25th season. Led by Producing Artistic Director Joseph W. Ritsch, Rep Stage produces engaging and evocative contemporary American classics and new works. Rep Stage is dedicated to collaborating with regional artists in its commitment to bringing richly diverse work to audiences. Recognized as a professional Washington, DC metropolitan area theatre company by Theatre Washington, Rep Stage has a proud history of Helen Hayes Award-winning productions and nominations. The theatre is a member of the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance and Theatre Communications Group. Performances are made possible by Howard Arts Council, Maryland State Arts Council, Howard County and Maryland state governments, and generous individual donors.

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