ANNA KARENINA Adds Matinees Due To Popular Demand

Actors Co-op adds two matinees of this daring fresh take on Leo Tolstoy's ANNA KARENINA by Helen Edmundson, directed by Heather Chesley, due to popular demand and sold out houses. This imaginatively staged, swift- paced ANNA KARENINA is an upside-down telling of Leo Tolstoy's classic tale. A story wrapped in temptation, passion and moral conflict, this eight-person dramatic event is an examination of love, adultery and marriage.

Helen Edmundson (Playwright) is a British playwright and screenwriter. She has won awards and critical acclaim for both her original writing and for her adaptations of literary classics for the stage and screen, including The Mill on the Floss, War and Peace, Zorro, and Queen Anne. Her adaptation of the novel Coram Boy was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Play in 2006 and was revived on Broadway in 2007, receiving six Tony Award nominations. Edmundson's adaptation of Thérèse Raquin was produced on Broadway in 2015, starring Academy Award-nominee Keira Knightley and Tony Award-winner Judith Light. Edmundson's work has been performed in renowned theaters such as the Royal National Theatre in London, Shakespeare's Globe, and across the West End and Broadway.

HEATHER CHESLEY (Director) has been a member of the Los Angeles Theater community for over a decade. She joined Actors Co-op Theater Company in 2004 and was made Artistic Chairperson in 2014. Heather directs a wide range of theater from the classics to new works and is thrilled to come "home" once again, this time to work on Helen Edmundson's Anna Karenina. She received critical acclaim at Actors Co-op directing Thornton Wilder's The Matchmaker, Moliere's The Learned Ladies, and Brian Friehl's Dancing at Lughnasa. Last year she joined the Garry Marshall team, directing the west coast premiere of Edward Albee's Occupant. Heather has also directed new works such as Desiree York's The Puppeteer for the Gary Marshall New Works Festival, Thompson & Mann musical Trails for The Festival of New American Musicals, the west coast premiere of Aline Brosh McKenna's Inside Lois, and Company We Keep for The Minnesota Fringe Festival. Prior to directing, she produced various shows including Matthew Goldsby's new musical Makin' Hay as well as Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along. Prior to that, Heather served as the Assistant Artistic Director for The Hampstead Players Theater Company.

The cast features the talents of Eva Abramian (Anna), Joseph Barone (Levin), Ivy Beech (Kitty, Seriozha), Garrett Botts (Vronsky, Nikolai), Bruce Ladd (Karenin, Priest), Deborah Marlowe (Princess Betsy/Agatha/Governess/Railway Widow), Lauren Thompson (Dolly, Countess Vronsky), and Michael Worden (Stiva, Bailiff, Oblonsky).

The Design and Production Team includes Kay Bess (Producer), Julie Hall (Choreography), Stephen Gifford (Scenic Design), Vicki Conrad (Costume, Hair and Make-up Design), Lisa D. Katz (Lighting Design), Lori Berg (Property Design), David B Marling (Sound Design) and Eric White (Stage Manager).

Recent Awards and Nominations for Actors Co-op Theatre Company

Actors Co-op recently won the 2018 Ovation Award for Direction of a Musical by Richard Israel for their critically acclaimed production of Violet. The company takes pride in their Four 2017 Ovation Awards for their Critics Pick production of 33 Variations: Best Production of a Play, Intimate Theatre, Best Lighting, Intimate Theatre - Andrew Schmedake, Best Scenic Design, Intimate Theatre - Nicholas Acciani, and Best Direction of a Play - Thomas James O'Leary; Two Robby Awards for 33 Variations, the Nan Martin Award Best Production and the Sally Kemp Award Best Actress Drama - Nan McNamara. In addition, the Actors Co-op Theatre Company garnered Five 2017 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle nominations for 33 Variations.

About Show Times and Tickets: February 8 - March 17. Fridays and Saturdays 8:00 pm. Sunday Matinees 2:30 pm. Saturday Matinees February 16, February 23, March 2 and March 16 at 2:30 pm. Recommended for ages 13 and up. Adults: $35. Seniors (60+) $30. Students with ID: $25.00. Group rates available. Tickets: www.ActorsCo-op.org or call (323) 462-8460. Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre, 1760 North Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood).

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