Photo Flash: First Look at Miners Alley Playhouse's I NEVER PROMISED YOU A ROSE GARDEN

"I Never Promised You a Rose Garden" had its world premiere at Miners Alley Playhouse in 2004 and they once again present this award winning production by Colorado playwright Walter L. Newton. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the show in the photos below!

Debra Klein created the Kingdom of Yr as a form of self-defense from her frightening reality. In childhood, Debra suffered frequent abuse from her anti-Semitic peers while at the same time being sheltered by her over-protected family. At first Yr was a safe-haven for her, but eventually the gods of Yr became tyrannical dictators who ruled Debra's every word and action. At the age of 16, Debra was committed to a psychiatrichospital diagnosed with schizophrenia. This is the story of her remarkable cure.

The cast includes Ellie Schwartz (Debra Klein), Don DeVeux (Jacob Klein), Suzanne Nepi (Esther Klein), Lori Hansen (Dr. Fried), Tony Catanese (Dr. Abrahan), Veronika Nelson (Carla Van Pelt), Brock Benson (Anterrabae), Bob Pearlman (Lactamaeon), Caitlin Conklin (Idat) and Karen Horan (Nurse/Aide).

Evergreen author Joanne Greenberg published "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden" in 1964. The novel, released as fiction, told the story of Debra and her 4 year battle with schizophrenia. Her cure was accomplished with intensive psychotherapy, without drugs and with the help of her amazing therapist Dr. Fried. In actuality the book was a fictionalized version of a true story and Greenberg was the subject of that book and Dr. Fried was the world famous psychotherapist Dr. Frieda Fromm-Reichmann. "To Redeem One Person Is To Redeem the World," published in 2000 was the first biography of Dr. Frieda Fromm-Reichmann and was written by Gail A. Hornstein, Professor of Psychology and Education at Mount Holyoke College in MA. Together these two books detail the life of Dr. Frieda Fromm-Reichmann, her battles in the 1940's with the upcoming over-emphasis of drug therapy in psychiatry and her personal battles with having left her native Germany a few steps ahead of the rising Nazi horror.

Colorado playwright Walter L. Newton has been involved in theater since 1966. As a playwright, actor and sometimes producer, he has worked in New Jersey, New York, Dallas, Houston and Denver. After moving to Texas in 1974, he scripted and produced staged magic shows for the Love Entertainment Center, the International Wildlife Park and the State Fair of Texas. His credits include: Poof! A play with MAGIC,High Crimes and Misdemeanors and 1984. His adaptation of Joanne Greenberg's I Never Promised You A Rose Garden was nominated for the 2004 Denver Post Ovation Awards for Best New Work, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. Paige Lynn Larson garnered the Ovation Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Miners Alley Playhouse presents "I Never Promised You A Rose Garden", now through October 27. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 6 p.m. (2 p.m. on Sunday, October 27). Tickets are $19.00 and available by calling 303-935-3044 or online at minersalley.com.

Photo Credit: Sarah Roshan

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