FIREMEN Extends Through 3/30 at Atwater Village Theatre

The Echo Theater Company extends its critically acclaimed world premiere production of Firemen, written by Tommy Smith and directed by Echo artistic director Chris Fields, through March 30 at Atwater Village Theatre.

Set in rural Washington state during the first Iraq war, Tommy Smith's drama explores an unthinkable love relationship. A disturbing but darkly humorous drama, Firemen continues to receive rave reviews from critics and generate excitement among audiences.

The Hollywood Reporter calls Firemen "daring... thoughtful... stimulating... unfailingly interesting to watch," and the LA Weekly says, "darkly funny and disturbing...a disarmingly appealing ensemble strike[s] just the right balance between...laughter and ... titillation." The Los Angeles Times praises Fields' "sensitively calibrated, dryly witty direction and the cast's brave and occasionally astonishing performances." Bitter Lemons, the Los Angeles website that aggregates theater reviews, rates Firemen at 91% Sweet and editorializes, "A disturbing and morally complex story... superior actors [who] achieve such heat and catharsis in almost every scene that you simply cannot take your eyes off them." Reviewing for Working Author, Ernest Kearney states, "The Echo Theater Company's production of Firemen by Tommy Smith is a show I'd like to drag anyone to who's never attended a live theater production and who doesn't 'get' what the big deal is... under Field's hand, Firemen soars."

Firemen stars Ian Bamberg, Zach Callison, Rebecca Gray, Michael McColl and Amanda Saunders. Scenic design is by Angel Herrera, lighting design is by Matt Richter, sound design is by Drew Dalzell and costume design is by Kathryn Poppen. Rebecca Eisenberg is production stage manager and produces with Chris Fields for The Echo Theater Company.

Well known for nurturing playwrights and producing new work, The Echo Theater Company was recently nominated for two Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards and six LA Weekly Awards for last season's production of A Family Thing by Gary Lennon, also directed by Fields.

Firemen continues Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays through March 30. Tickets are $20 on Fridays and Sundays, and $25 on Saturdays. The Echo Theater Company is located in the Atwater Village Theatre complex at 3269 Casitas Ave in Los Angeles, CA 90039. On-site parking is free. For reservations and information, call (310) 307-3753 or go to www.EchoTheaterCompany.com. (Please note: Firemen contains adult subject matter and is recommended for mature audiences.)

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