Chance Theater Premieres Brian Nelson's OVERLOOKED Tonight, 9/29

Chance Theater presents the fourth show of its 2012 season with a biting new world premiere play, OVERLOOKED, written by Brian Nelson (the writer of the acclaimed film "Hard Candy") and directed by Marya Mazor. OVERLOOKED opens tonight, Saturday, September 29 at 8pm and continue through Sunday, October 21 at Chance Theater, 5552 E. La Palma Ave. in Anaheim Hills.

When an established artist looks for his "next big thing" and attempts to grab some media attention by employing a homeless man to be his newest art installation, the public is intrigued and also aghast. Behind the scenes, a series of events revolving around this new sensation in the art world take us down unpredictable avenues and asks us to question – what exactly is "art" and where is the line between right and wrong, job and enslavement, and art and reality in this daring and dangerously funny new comedy.

BRIAN NELSON (Playwright) is a screenwriter and playwright whose works include the films HARD CANDY, 30 DAYS OF NIGHT and DEVIL, as well as plays including CONSOLATION (Actors Theatre of Louisville Lab) and RADIANT (Ensemble Studio Theatre/Alfred E. Sloan Fellowship). Currently he serves as a writer and consulting producer on the forthcoming Starz series DAVINCI'S DEMONS. He is also the author of EARTH BOUND: DAILY MEDITATIONS FOR ALL SEASONS (Skinner House) and the editor of ASIAN AMERICAN DRAMA: NINE PLAYS (Skinner House). He has taught on every grade level including a decade in the USC School of Theatre, as well as serving as Literary Manager at East West Players. His stage directing credits include work at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Texas Shakespeare Festival, and the Kennedy Center New Visions/New Voices Festival. He holds degrees from Yale University and UCLA, and lives in Los Angeles with his wife and daughters.

MARYA MAZOR (Director) is a critically acclaimed, award-winning director of theatre and film whose work has been seen across the country. In 2012, Marya directed Aladdin for Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Entertainment. Her hit production of Albee's The Goat at Chance Theater was named Best Play of 2011 by OC Weekly. Marya was one of eight women chosen to participate in the AFI Directing Workshop for Women, where she directed The Winged Man, featuring Ana Ortiz, written by Academy-Award Nominee Jose Rivera (Motorcycle Diaries). Her work has been seen at Nada, Dixon Place, The Lewis Family Playhouse, Chance Theater, The Boston Court Theater, Circle X, The Open Fist Theatre Company, and the Williamstown Theatre Festival, among many other venues. Marya founded Voice & Vision, a professional theater in New York City, and she served as its Artistic Director for eleven years. During her tenure, Voice & Vision developed and produced the work of some of America's leading artists, including Olympia Dukakis, Kia Corthron, and Lynn Nottage. With Voice & Vision, Marya directed Jocasta, an opera based on the libretto by Helene Cixous; FireDance by Chiori Miyagawa; and The Fall and Repentance of Mary at the Metropolitan Museum Cloisters, among many other works. Marya is a recipient of the 2003-2004 National Endowment of the Arts/Theatre Communications Group Directing Fellowship, and she has taught at The New School, Vassar College, and Fordham University. Marya holds an M.F.A. in directing from the Yale School of Drama.

The Cast of OVERLOOKED features: Brandon Sean Pearson (Welcome Home, Jenny Sutter), Jackson Tobiska (West Side Story), Alex Bueno (Rabbit Hole), Lewis R. Crouse II (Anne Of Green Gables) and making her Chance Theater debut, Jane Noble.

OVERLOOKED has assembled an award-winning design team. The Scenic Design is by Bradley Kaye. The Costume Design is by Erika C. Miller. The Lighting Design is by Kristin Neu. The Sound Design is by Dave Mickey. The Prop Design is by Masako Tobaru. The Production Stage Manager is Bebe Herrera.

OVERLOOKED will open tonight, September 29 at 8pm and continue through Sunday, October 21. Performances are Thursdays & Fridays at 8pm; Saturdays at 3pm & 8pm and Sundays at 2pm. Preview performances are: Friday, September 21 & Saturday, September 22 at 8pm; Sunday, September 23 at 2pm; Thursday, September 27 & Friday, September 28 at 8pm.

Tickets for all general performances are $35. Preview ticket prices are $25. All tickets can be purchased by calling (714) 777-3033 or by visiting www.chancetheater.com. Student, Senior and group discounts are available. (Groups call 1-714-900-3284).

CHANCE THEATER is located at 5552 E. La Palma Ave. in Anaheim Hills, Calif. Parking is free.

Proud to be one of the leading ensemble-based Contemporary Theatre companies in Southern California, CHANCE THEATER recently received the Ovation Award for Best Musical (Intimate Theatre) and a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for its Southern California premiere of "Jerry Springer: The Opera." Twice named "Outstanding Arts Organization" by Arts Orange County, Chance Theater is also a recipient of the Los Angeles Drama Critics

Circle's Polly Warfield Award for Excellence. Founded in 1999, Chance Theater is focused on its goal of being Orange County's premiere mid-size contemporary ensemble theater. As a constituent member of Theatre Communications Group, Network of Ensemble Theaters, and the LA Stage Alliance, Chance Theater continues to bring national attention to the Southern California and Orange County theater scenes.

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