Coast Playhouse Presents LOVE SUCKS, 2/25

'Love Sucks,' a "not so romantic comedy of bad manners," presented by The World Famous Improvisation and Mario Cantone, premieres an eight-week run at the Coast Playhouse, 8325 Santa Monica Blvd. in Los Angeles on February 25. www.LoveSucksPlay.com

The play is a 48-hour riotous romp through the bars, backseats and bathroom stalls of New York City's Lower East Side.  It follows six romantically challenged philanderers through a maze of mistaken identities and hilarious sexual misadventures that resonate strongly in today's behavioral revolution. The play is written and directed by Rob Mersola, who has had several of his plays produced in New York and Los Angeles and has had pieces performed at the Aspen Comedy Festival.

"Love Sucks" stars a number of up-and-coming actors who have been working together as an ensemble on this show since 2009.  The cast includes Joshua Bitton, (HBO's "The Pacific," "National Treasure," "Detroit 1-8-7," "NCIS"), Anil Kumar (NBC's new series "The Cape," Broadway's "The Allergist's Wife", "The Ode," "Nip/Tuck," "Six Feet Under," "24"), Sadie Alexandru (a recurring role in "As the World Turns"), Daniel Ponickly (choreographer for "Dancing with the Stars" and dancing roles in "Mona Lisa Smile," "Mad Hot Ballroom" and as The Prince at the 80^th Academy Awards®), Michael Alperin ("CSI Miami," "Nail Polish") and Jeni Verdon (granddaughter of Broadway legend Gwen Verdon). The design team is: Burris Jackes, sets; Kathi O'donohue, lights; Lorena Gomez, costumes.

"Love Sucks" preview performances will be held on Saturday, February 19, at 8:00 pm and Sunday February 20, at 7:00 pm. Opening Night is Friday, February 25, 8:00 p.m. followed by a reception. Other performances are set for Fridays at 8:00 pm; Saturdays at 8:00 pm and 10:30 pm; and Sundays at 7:00 pm through April 10.

In its original incarnation, the play was titled "Backseats and Bathroom Stalls" and was critically acclaimed in two bare bones productions, one in New York City and one in the Silverlake district of Los Angeles. 

"Love Sucks" is produced by Jo Anne Astrow, Ronni Lynn Hart, Dave Hart and Mark Lonow, Springtime 4 and East 4th Street Productions. Tickets are available at www.ovationtix.com/trs/cal/31205  or www.LoveSucksPlay.com