Colony Theatre's West Coast Premiere of THE BEST ENEMIES Begins Tonight

The Colony Theatre is thrilled to present the second production of its 41st season, the West Coast Premiere of THE BEST OF ENEMIES by Mark St. Germain, directed by David Rose. THE BEST OF ENEMIES will preview tonight, September 16; Thursday, September 17; and Friday, September 18 at 8:00pm. It will open on Saturday, September 19 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, October 18.

Meet Ann Atwater, an African-American civil rights activist, and C.P.Ellis, the Exalted Cyclops of the Ku Klux Klan. They are forced to work together by the federal government to achieve integration in their small North Carolina town fifteen years after Brown v. Board of Education. Clearly, they will never be friends, but over the course of the play, hearts, minds - and lives - are changed as they discover all the things they have in common. Ultimately, they forge an alliance based on respect and trust. Impossible to believe - except it's a true story!

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM

MARK ST. GERMAIN (Playwright) wrote the play Freud's Last Session, which has broken box office records nation-wide. He also co-wrote (with John Markus) The Fabulous Lipitones, which had its California premiere on the Colony stage earlier this season. Additional plays are Dancing Lessons, Scott and Hem, Becoming Dr. Ruth, The Best of Enemies, Camping with Henry and Tom (Lucille Lortel and Outer Critics Circle Awards), The God Committee, Out of Gas on Lover's Leap, and Forgiving Typhoid Mary. With Randy Courts he wrote the musicals The Gifts of the Magi,Johnny Pye, and Jack's Holiday. His musical Stand by Your Man was written for Nashville's Ryman Theater. Television includes Crime and Punishment and The Cosby Show. Mark co-wrote the screenplay for Carroll Ballard's film Duma and directed and produced the documentary My Dog featuring Richard Gere, Lynn Redgrave, and Billy Collins. He also wrote the award-winning children's book, Three Cups. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Writer's Guild East, and is an Associate Artist at the Barrington Stage Company.

DAVID ROSE (Director) has been a resident director at the Colony Theatre for over 20 years, as well as serving as Chairman of the Board of Trustees from 2000 through 2013. He has staged over 30 productions for the Colony, including: American Fiesta, ...Young Lady From Rwanda (West Coast premiere, NAACP Theatre Award nomination), Year Zero (West Coast premiere), Visiting Mr. Green, Master Harold...and the boys (NAACP Theatre Award nomination), Mary's Wedding, The Voice of the Prairie, Our Country's Good (Six L.A. Ovation award nominations, including Best Direction), Almost Maine (West Coast premiere), Billy Bishop Goes to War, Bea[u]tiful in the Extreme(World Premiere), Shooting Star, Sherlock's Last Case, The Drawer Boy (Los Angeles premiere), Fuddy Meers (West Coast premiere), The Nerd, The Living (Drama-Logue award), The Man Who Came to Dinner, The Front Page (L.A. Weekly award - Revival Production of the Year, Drama-Logue award), You Can't Take it With You (Drama-Logue award), June Moon, and Peccadillo (West Coast premiere, Drama-Logue award). He has also directed Colony Second Stage productions of True West, Baby with the Bathwater, and I Can Fit My Fist in My Mouth (World premiere). As an actor, he appeared on the Colony stage in Incident at Vichy, Morning's at Seven, The Clearing, Einstein and the Polar Bear, Triple-Take, and Bedroom Farce (Drama-Logue award). He has also appeared in many commercials, TV shows and movies, most recently the films Fathers and Sons and Sam's Story. He has also had the privilege of narrating numerous audio books. Elsewhere in Los Angeles, he has directed productions of Geniuses (Drama-Logue award),Justin Tanner's Big Bear, and the 11 month run of the smash hit Road to Nirvana (Drama-Logue award): all at Third Stage - as well as The Dining Room at Theatre 40, Inspecting Carol at the Ivy Substation (Drama-Logue award) andChased From Paradise and The Blues are Running at the Lost Studio. David is the former Artistic Director and improvisational performer with the New York Comedy Repertory Ensemble. In NYC he also staged productions at the Equity Library Theatre, Manhattan Punch Line, the Pearl Theatre, and the 13th Street Theatre. He was a founding member of Washington D.C's acclaimed Woolly Mammoth Theater Company, and is a proud member of Actor's Equity.

ABOUT THE CAST AND DESIGN TEAM

LARRY CEDAR (C.P. Ellis) is thrilled to return for his eighth appearance on The Colony stage after starring in previous productions of Around the World in 80 Days, Billy Bishop Goes to War, The Accomplice, Stage Struck, Celadine, American Fiesta, and Travels With My Aunt. Other theatre includes portraying Thomas Jefferson in the recent world premiere of The Gospel According to Thomas Jefferson, Charles Dickens, and Count Leo Tolstoy: Discord at The Geffen Playhouse, Lear in The Porters of Hellsgate production of King Lear, American Misfit (Boston Court), Nightmare Alley (Geffen Playhouse), and the debut of his one-man adaptation, Orwellian, based on the writings of George Orwell, at The Odyssey Theatre. Recent film includes Midnight Son, 0000, The Binding, Sparks, The Midnighters, Would You Rather, The Crazies, Hollywoodland, Alyce Kills, Towelhead, Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas, Feds, and a starring role in the upcoming Native American fantasy, She Sings to the Stars(www.shesingstothestars.com), currently making the film festival rounds. Larry starred for six years on the Children's Television Network's Square One TV, recurred for three years as opium addict Leon Stalworth in HBO's acclaimed western series Deadwood, and most recently guest starred on the penultimate episode of Mad Men, Grey's Anatomy (as the surgeon who killed McDreamy), and Community (as Chevy Chase's father, Cornelius Hawthorne). Larry is a proud member of Actor's Equity. Please visit him on Facebook, Twitter (@larrycedar), and Instagram (@blurdt) or at www.larrycedar.com

SHON FULLER (Bill Riddick) has worked with some of the best American Repertory Theater Companies playing roles from Shakespeare to Magical Lions. Shon appeared in the Colony production of What I Learned in Paris and he is ecstatic to be back! He is a card carrying member of Actor's Equity. He has been on the small screen, in national commercials, and daytime TV. His career continues to be a wonderful journey. Shon's work includes roles as Walter Lee Younger in A Raisin in the Sun and Peterson in A Soldier's Play. He has appeared on stage with Open Fist, Robey, Towne Street, and Maim theater companies. When he has the time, Shon enjoys discovering new physical activities like Tae Kwon Do, Rock Climbing, or Bike Riding to combat the effects of preparing his own down home cooked meals. To all of you theater goers: thank you for supporting good theater, I couldn't do this without you. To my friends and supporters: thank you for every single prayer, mile driven or flown, dime spent to watch me take the stage. I appreciate you more than you know. To my parents: thank you for pouring love into me and encouraging me to use the gifts God has given me. I could never thank you enough. God, thank you for the gift!

HOLLY HAWKINS (Mary Ellis) is delighted to appear in her second production with The Colony Theatre, having previously played another Mary (that one an 18th Century barmaid) in Celadine. Theatre in Los Angeles: The Assassination of Leon Trotsky: A Comedy (The Odyssey); Crime and Punishment and Richard the III (A Noise Within), and Meetin's on The Porch. She recently recurred in True Blood's last season and also recurred as Dr. Sturman on Revenge. Other television: Fox pilot Rogue, Criminal Minds, The Young & The Restless, Class, Strong Medicine, and Hamlet for LA PBS. Recent film work: Spring, directed by Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead;Nightmare on Elm Street; The Head of The Mouse, and End of the Innocents. If you're a Tim Burton fan (working with him was an amazingly terrific experience), you may recall her as Lady Large Nose, The Red Queen's lead lady-in-waiting in Alice in Wonderland. From Louisiana, her early pursuit of ballet took her to NYC, where she began acting. Favorite roles: Viola/Twelfth Night (42nd Street Workshop Theatre), Violet/Man and Superman (Roundabout Theatre), Amanda/Private Lives (Lamb's Theatre), Mrs. Kendal/The Elephant Man, Blanche/A Streetcar Named Desire, and Sylvia Davies in the NYC premiere of The Man Who Was Peter Pan, by Allan Knee. She moved to Pasadena 10 years ago. Appearing in her first music video this spring with Charlie Puth and Meghan Trainor, the power of the internet became very apparent when it reached 41 million hits in 4 months. Thank you all for supporting live theatre!

TIFFANY REBECCA ROYALE (Ann Atwater) is a native Californian, and a proud member of Actors Equity Association. She is excited to make her Colony Theatre debut as Ann Atwater in The Best of Enemies. Recent credits include the feature film The Mis-education of Joy, the play All that Glitters Ain't Gold by Tai French, and national commercials for E-harmony and California Psychics. Tiffany is an alumni of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill where she received her M.F.A in Acting, and Grambling State University with a B.A. in Theatre. When not performing, Tiffany extends her talents as an Acting Coach, Director, and Producer with her Production company,Shy Oak Entertainment. www.Tiffanyrebeccaroyale.com www.shyoakentertainment.com

THE BEST OF ENEMIES features a stellar design team. The Scenic Design is by David Potts (Emmy Award - HBO'sDeadwood). The Costume Design is by Dianne K. Graebner (Ovation nominations - The Brothers Karamazov andBattle Hymn). The Lighting Design is by Jared A. Sayeg (Ovation nominations - Trying and Kiss Me, Kate). The Sound and Projection Design is by Dave Mickey (Robert E. Cohen Sound Achievement Award). Props Design and Set Dressing is by Colony Theatre resident propmaster John M. McElveney and Scenic Art is by resident artist Orlando de la Paz.

ABOUT THE SCHEDULE AND PRICING

THE BEST OF ENEMIES will open on Saturday, September 19 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, October 18. Performances for THE BEST OF ENEMIES are Thursdays & Fridays at 8:00pm; Saturdays at 3:00pm & 8:00pm; and Sundays at 2:00pm. Ticket prices range from $25.00 - $49.00 (group discounts are available). THE BEST OF ENEMIES will preview on Wednesday, September 16, Thursday, September 17, Friday, September 19 at 8:00pm at The Colony Theatre, 555 North Third Street (at Cypress) adjacent to the Burbank Town Center Mall. Opening night performance with reception - all tickets $59.00. There are question-and-answer talkbacks after the performances on Friday, September 25 and Thursday, October 8. For tickets, call the Colony Theatre Box Office at 818/558-7000 ext. 15 or online at www.ColonyTheatre.org.

To post a comment, you must register and login.