Long Beach Playhouse Opens THE GRADUATE Tonight

The Long Beach Playhouse will present The Graduate on the Mainstage.

Recent college graduate Benjamin Braddock is morose. He sees his parents and their friends as "grotesques" and cannot abide the thought of a future where he cares about "plastics" and defines himself by the size of his house and swimming pool. Out of boredom coupled with desperation, Benjamin falls into bed with a friend of his parents, Mrs. Robinson, but by the end of the summer finds himself falling in love with Mrs. Robinson's daughter.

Adapted for the stage by Terry Johnson and based on the novel by Charles Webb and the screenplay by Calder Willingham and Buck Henry, the story of Benjamin's quandary is as witty as ever. Set in 1964, the play includes many characters and plot elements that people love in the film, but offers a fresh approach, with some different scenes not found in the film version.

We are honored to have Carl daSilva directing this production. He is a favorite of the LBP creative team and never fails to deliver a great experience for the audience. Last year he directed Waiting for Godot to great success. As always, our director is assisted by many of the city's finest theater professionals whose talent with lights, sounds, costumes and props transport the audience to another place and time.

The Graduate opens tonight, March 2, 2013. The public is invited to purchase tickets for the opening night reception and gala where they may mix and mingle with the cast.

The show will continue on Friday nights (8 p.m.), Saturday nights (8 p.m.) and Sunday matinees, (2 p.m.) through Saturday, May 5, 2012.

Featuring in order of appearance

Ben Braddock- Eric Pierce
Mr. Braddock (Dad)- Skip Blas
Mr. Robinson- Tom Juarez
Mrs. Braddock (Mom)- Martha Duncan
Mrs. Robinson- Lori Kelley
Male Actor- Rob Ullett
Female Actor- Anna Kate Mohler
Elaine Robinson- Andrea Dennison Laufer

SPECIAL EVENTS FOR THIS PLAY:
Pay what you can Thursday on Feb 28 - community can see this production for whatever they can afford
Two for One Preview Friday on March 1 - Tickets are $12.00
Opening Night Champagne Reception with cast on March 2 - Tickets are $27.00

Adults are $24.00, seniors $21.00, and Students $14.00.

Tickets are available at www.lbplayhouse.org, or by calling 562-494-1014, option 1.

To request an interview with the director, cast members or reserve your media tickets to this performance, please send an email to: pr@lbplayhouse.org.

Long Beach Playhouse is located at 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach, CA, 90804, right across from the Long Beach Recreation golf course. The Playhouse is community-supported theatre with programs and events that cut across age, gender, ethnic, and cultural boundaries.

Performances are 8 p.m. Friday, and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. The box office is open Wednesday-Saturday from 3:00-8:00 pm & Sundays from 1:00-2:00 pm on scheduled matinees only. For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.lbplayhouse.org or call 562-494-1014.

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