BEST OF PICK OF THE VINE to Showcase Best Short Plays from 15 Seasons at Little Fish Theatre

In commemoration of its 15th anniversary, Little Fish Theatre will present Best of Pick of the Vine as the crown jewel in its already sparkling 2017 season.

With more than 140 original short plays having been produced in the yearly best-selling festival, the final 14 plays chosen are each the Best in their ClasS. Boasting an all-star cast and directing team, Little Fish Theatre is thrilled to deliver TWO nights worth of provocative shorts to its loyal audiences who have grown to love the flagship production of this local arts landmark.

Best of Pick of the Vine will be presented in a double dose on TWO alternating nights deemed Series A and Series B:

Series A:

The Boy Who Was Born with a Tail by Matt Casarino
Stuck by Christopher Lockheardt
Sophisticated Barflies by Kristen Lazarian
Cancelled by M. Rowan Meyer
Outing the Badger by Tommy Trull
In the Jar by Mark Harvey Levine

Series B:

Superhero by Mark Harvey Levine
Trash Day by Vincent Terrell Durham
My Name is Art by Peter Snoad
One for the Chipper by Adam Seidel
The Crucifixion of Moe & Ira by Lynn-Steven Johanson
Normal by Jami Brandli
Veronica's Test of Worthiness by Edward Zipperer
Cabfare for the Common Man by Mark Harvey Levine

This selection of scintillating shows examine a sundry of themes: How will two strangers escape from a stuck revolving door? What happens when a bunch of talking bugs are caught in a jar? Will a man finally be rid of his annoying girlfriend when he introduces her to his eccentric family?

The Best of Pick of the Vine producers sent a survey to 175 patrons, actors, and arts lovers with a list of short plays produced over the years. With the top scoring plays, POV originators Mark Piatelli and Lisa Coffi, along with Associate Artistic Director Suzanne Dean, fashioned the crowd-pleasing two-show series, chosen for their ability to entertain, engross, and electrify audiences.

The Best of Pick of the Vine directing team features two Company Members who are first-time directors: Tara Donovan (LFT's The Ithaca Ladies Read Medea) and Caroline Benzon (stage manager and sound design, Shakespeare by the Sea). Returning directors include Piatelli (StageScene LA award winner for LFT's Bus Stop), Madeleine Drake (LFT's POV 2017), Margaret Schugt (LFT's Central Park West), James Rice (LFT's The Good Doctor), Branda Lock (LFT's Dear Master), Holly Baker-Kreiswirth (LFT's Laughter on the 23rd Floor), and Bill Wolski (LFT's POV 2013).

The 12-member cast consists entirely of LFT Company Members, some of whom are reprising their roles from the original production. On stage are Holly Baker-Kreiswirth (StageSceneLA award winner, LFT's Panache), Allen Barstow (LFT's Private Eyes), Jennifer Faneuff (LFT's Central Park West), Kathryn Farren (LFT's Laughter on the 23rd Floor and General Hospital), Geraldine Fuentes (LFT's Oh, Baby), David Kiernan (LFT's POV 2016), Rachel Levy (LFT's POV 2013), Patrick Rafferty (LFT's Rapture, Blister, Burn), Rodney Rincon* (StageSceneLA award winner, LFT's Bus Stop), Don Schlossman* (Groundlings Graduate and LFT's Laughter on the 23rd Floor), Craig Shields (LFT's POV 2013), and Bill Wolski (StageSceneLA award winner LFT's Tryst).

Playing over 18 alternating performances, audiences have the opportunity to schedule attendance for both series of plays.

Best of Pick of the Vine Series A and Series B will alternate performances from August 4 through September 2. Patrons can check the website for each series list of pieces and cast. Performances times are: Friday and Saturday nights at 8pm; Sunday performances August 6 and 20 at 2pm, and August 13 and 27 at 2pm and 7pm; Thursday shows August 17 and 24 at 8pm. The matinee on August 6 features a special talkback session with the cast and creative team of Series A, while the August 20 matinee features the session with those of Series B. Over the years, Pick of the Vine has gathered a loyal and enthusiastic following. With the added incentive of seeing fourteen of the best plays over the last 15 years, this production is expected to sell out most performances.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.littlefishtheatre.org, by phone at 310-512-6030 or by text 424-226-6030. Popular subscription packages of Anytime Tickets are available now and can be used at any of Little Fish Theatre's regular season productions, at any time.

Founded in 2002, Little Fish Theatre presents classic and contemporary plays in an intimate setting on Centre Street in downtown San Pedro. Producing ten plays each year in a one-room, 65-seat venue, Little Fish delivers the quintessential close-up theatrical experience, where audience and performers share space and sight lines, making for eruptive laughter, highly-charged action, and palpable emotion.

*This production is presented under the auspices of the Actors' Equity Los Angeles Membership Company Rule.

To post a comment, you must register and login.