Little Fish Theatre's Collision Course To Romance, THE BALCONY SCENE, Opens March 15

Adjoining balconies set the scene in Little Fish Theatre's first midweek show of its 2018 season. Written by Emmy Award-nominated television writer Wil Calhoun and directed by Little Fish Theatre Company Member Bill Wolski, The Balcony Scene places two decidedly different people on touching terraces and sets them on an unexpected collision course to romance.

Alvin is an historian who believes the world is declining into chaos and has taken refuge in his apartment. Karen is a diehard optimist with a high pressure job who moves in next door. They meet and strike up a friendship that has a chance to turn into something more, if they can get past her relentless ex-boyfriend and Alvin's fear of the outside world. The Balcony Scene is a slice of life examination of modern day pressures that reminds us that we miss one hundred percent of the shots we don't take.

Playwright Calhoun is known for his work as a writer and producer for television shows Friends, Kath & Kim, Jesse, and the Netflix hit Grace and Frankie starring Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda. Wolski, mostly seen on stage and helming short plays in audience favorites Pick of the Vine and Twisted, Spooky, Creepy, has been handed the reins to his first full-length piece for Little Fish Theatre.

"In life, we meet people mostly by chance, not by destiny -- but The Balcony Scene is an optimistic tale that urges us to stay hopeful. When you've given up on society and only see the world for its darkness, sometimes the light finds you," says Wolski. "The script takes a harsh look at both the triumphs and pitfalls of love and independence. Everyone wants both in their lives, but too much or too little of either one can lead down dangerous paths." He adds, "I have the fullest confidence in my cast, whose bodies of work I have enjoyed watching for years. I'm really enjoying working from this side of the stage, and I'm honored to be given the opportunity at the best spot in town."

Patrick Vest, last seen at LFT in Dinner with Friends, plays agoraphobic Alvin. Vest is known to audiences for his multiple roles with Shakespeare by the Sea, including the title role in Macbeth. He recently closed Picasso at the Lapin Agile at the Norris Theatre. Sunny and spirited Karen is played by Tara Donovan, recently on the LFT boards in The Ithaca Ladies Read Medea. Donovan just finished a run of Taking Sides at the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura, California. Playing Karen's difficult and dangerous ex-boyfriend Paul is Greg Prusiewicz, whom audiences know from Shakespeare by the Sea and for his roles in LFT's The Night Before The Night Before Christmas and The 39 Steps.

"The Balcony Scene is an uplifting tale of opposites attracting, and the way in which their worlds first collide. There have been unlikely couples since the beginning of time, and my husband and I join those ranks. Is it fate, kismet, or destiny?" says Producing Artistic Director Lisa Coffi. "I'm not that big of a romantic, but regardless, we've been happily married for 20+ years and met in an unexpected manner. So this play stirred up all those memories and more."

The Balcony Scene will run on Thursdays March 15 through April 5 at 8:00pm, with two Wednesday shows on March 28 and April 4 at 8:00pm. There will be two Sunday 2:00pm matinees on March 18 and March 25. The March 18 matinee features a special Talkback session where the actors and creative team will be available for 10 to 15 minutes for a post-show discussion with the audience.

Founded in 2002 as an artists' ensemble, Little Fish Theatre presents classic and contemporary plays in an intimate setting on Centre Street in downtown San Pedro.

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