Dezart Performs Presents World Premiere Of SUICIDE DOGS Beginning 1/22

Dezart Performs presents the World Premiere of a new comedy. Suicide Dogs, for a limited run, January 22 through January 31, at The Pearl McManus Theater in Palm Springs. When then 22-year-old playwright Jess Honovich submitted her engaging drama-comedy, "Suicide Dogs" to Palm Springs-based performing arts company Dezart Performs for its 2015 Play Reading Festival, she had no idea whether it would be selected for a staged reading. After all, 120 original new works had been submitted, and many were written by much more established playwrights. To Honovich's delighted surprise, not only was her play selected by the judging panel and Artistic Director Michael Shaw as one of only five to be performed, but "Suicide Dogs" won the Festival's top honor. As Audience Favorite, she learned, it would be fully produced during the 2015/2016 season.

"I'm very excited to be bringing this World Premiere to our stage," said Dezart Performs' artistic director Shaw. "Jess, who's now 23, is the youngest playwright we've ever featured. She's definitely someone to keep an eye out for."

One of the joys of taking a play from staged reading to full production, says Shaw, is the opportunity to further develop the work. He and Honovich spent some time over the summer and fall, working on tightening the script, and addressing some of their concerns-especially regarding the main character, whose life is instrumental in the play. "The special challenge for this production is bringing the life of Driver, the dog, to the stage, without ever actually seeing him. I think you will find him quite adorable."

The story revolves around what happens after the death of a well-known golf professional in Florida. When the golf pro's sister Amelia and her family arrive in Miami to prepare for her brother's funeral, she struggles with the intentions of a prying neighbor, a daughter who's increasingly out of control, and an inflexible sister that she doesn't know that well. Adding to the chaos is the discovery that she must now also take care of her brother's very famous and very sick dog, Driver.

Bringing Honovich's story of a man, his dog, and the game of golf to life will be director Michael Shaw and actors Rob Hubler, Stan Jenson, Rachel Silverman, Denise Strand and Yo Younger. "Suicide Dogs" is co-produced by Clark Dugger with set design by Thomas J. Valach and lighting design by Phil Murphy.

Suicide Dogs opens Friday, January 22, 2016, and the production will run through Sunday, January 31. Evening performances will be on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., with matinees on Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 p.m., at the Pearl McManus Theater in the Palm Springs Woman's Club, 314 S. Cahuilla Rd, Palm Springs 92262. Tickets are $28 evening, and $24 matinee. For more information about, and tickets for, Suicide Dogs or upcoming Dezart productions visit www.dezartperforms.org or call (760) 322-0179.