HOPPING ON DOWN THE BUNNY TRAIL to Play The Eclectic Company Theatre

If you like "Modern Family" and its juxtaposition of humor and the realities of familial and societal evolution, but crave a tiny bit more depth, this production is for you. "Hopping On Down The Bunny Trail," a new play written by Mark Hooker, premieres Thursday, August 11th at The Eclectic Company Theatre, near the North Hollywood Arts District.

The subject matter is timely: a gay man with Alzheimer's. A trans teen girl. A giant bunny. Just your average American family.

"Hopping On Down The Bunny Trail" tackles the journey of a family in crisis. Ronny is a talented musician in his 50s, who is stricken with early onset Alzheimer's. His life partner, Dan, struggles to keep him at home rather than taking him to a care facility. Their daughter Anne's fiancée, Todd, has a 16-year­-old transgender sibling, Elsa, who is transitioning from a boy to a girl. When Elsa's and Ronny's worlds collide, they discover they have more in common than they ever could have imagined. Together, they help each other through their individual journeys.

Bunny Trail is anything but heavy­-handed, as it deftly navigates tough subject matter with humor and charm. Mayhem ensues when Ronny's flights of fancy become more and more bizarre - from the appearance of an imaginary porno-­style pizza delivery boy to a Giant Bunny that is determined to "take him down the bunny trail." Insightful, humanizing, and funny, the play asks the question, "Who are our REAL families?"

"Hopping On Down The Bunny Trail" runs Thursdays­-Sundays, August 11- 28th at The Eclectic Company Theatre at 5312 Laurel Canyon Blvd. Show times are 8 PM Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and 2 PM on Sundays. Tickets are $20 general admission (limited quantity available at half­price on Goldstar.com) and $15 for students and seniors, available on Eventbrite or through the box office. For group discounts, contact the box office at (323) 906­7295. More information and updates are available on the Facebook page.

Mark Hooker is an actor, director, teacher, and the artistic director of Brazen Theatre, a not­for­profit LGBT theatre in Minneapolis. He wrote "The Miss Longview Texas Drag Pageant," which premiered in NYC Off­Off Broadway in 2013, as well as the farce, "69 Pine Grove Way," and the musical, "What Liza Saw." His directing credits include "Doubt" and "Naked Boys Singing." His acting credits on stage include "Angels in America," "Someone Who'll Watch Over Me," and "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum." On television Mark has appeared in "All My Children," "One Life to Live," "As The World Turns," "The Guiding Light," "Another World," and "Loving." Mark is working on his MFA in Playwriting and Screenwriting at Augsburg College in Minneapolis.

The Eclectic Company Theatre is a collaborative community promoting artistic freedom, presenting original and established works, and providing support to new and seasoned producers.

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