NVA presents the West Coast Premiere of SWEET STORM, Closes 5/15

New Village Arts is proud to present the West Coast Premiere of Scott Hudson's two-hander SWEET STORM. Directed by Ensemble Member Daren Scott, SWEET STORM features Ensemble Member Adam Brick with Kelly Iversen as young newlyweds in 1960's Florida, spending their wedding night in a romantic treehouse built by Bo for his new wife Ruthie. SWEET STORM will be playing at New Village Arts Theatre (2787 State Street, Carlsbad Village) from April 20 - May 15, 2011. The official opening night is April 23 at 8 PM. Tickets can be purchased at www.NewVillageArts.org or by calling 760-433-3245.

In 1960 Florida during an approaching storm, Ruthie and Bo, two newlyweds, enter their honeymoon suite in the sky: a treehouse which is a romantic gift from the young groom to his bride. Yet Bo's expectations of living happily ever after in the sky are soon grounded by Ruthie's realization that marriage comes with many unforeseen - and frightening - challenges. The two lovers struggle to fortify themselves against forces both inside and outside. SWEET STORM is a funny, powerful and intimate love story to challenge our perceptions of marriage, faith and love.

Playwright Scott Hudson is best known for his work as an actor with Labyrinth Theatre in New York (where he is a company member) and SWEET STORM is his first play. New York acting credits include: Our Lady of 121st Street, Labyrinth Theatre, Wild Echinacea, Phil Bosakowski Theatre, Hot Keys (final season), P.S. 122, Can't Go Nowhere with Ya, John Houseman Studio. Regional: The School for Wives, La Jolla Playhouse, Crimes of the Heart, Caldwell Theater. Scott trained under William Esper and Maggie Flanigan in the M.F.A. program at Rutgers. He is an associate teacher at the Maggie Flanigan Studio.

Like Scott Hudson, NVA Ensemble Member Daren Scott is also best known for his work as an actor and this is his first time working as a director.
Previous shows for New Village Arts include The Santaland Diaries, The Seven Year Itch, Be Aggressive, Humble Boy, Three Sisters, Crimes of the Heart, A Lie Of The Mind, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. For Cygnet Theatre, Daren has appeared in Love Song, The Invention Of Love, Biedermann And The Firebugs, Las Meninas. Most notable shows for Diversionary Theatre include Execution Of Justice and A Bright Room Called Day (co-produced with Backyard Productions). Other San Diego experience includes the West Coast premieres of Closer (Backyard Productions), Stop Kiss (Womens Rep), and Fit To Be Tied (Elephant Productions), and the highly acclaimed Of Mice And Men (with ensemble member Joshua Everett Johnson) for Renaissance Theatre Company and Frankie And Johnny In The Claire De Lune for Vantage Theatre (directed by DJ Sullivan) . Daren had a recurring role on the FX television series Terriers and was a regular recurring character on Fashion House (Fox) and a co-star on The Ex List (CBS). In addition to his work on stage, Daren is one of the most accomplished theatre photographers in town and has shot photos for NVA, Cygnet and Diversionary, among others.

NVA hired two of the hottest young actors in town to bring Bo and Ruthie to life, Ensemble Member Adam Brick and Kelly Iversen. Adam Brick graduated from The Meisner Technique Studio in San Francisco and has acted in many plays at New Village Arts, including Things We Want, Time Flies, The Complete Work of William Shakespeare (Abridged) and Three Sisters. Other previous acting roles in local performances include: Tartuffe (Cleante), Dark Rapture (Ray), and Waiting for Lefty (Joe) with Palomar Performing Arts. For NVA, Kelly Iversen has appeared in Simpatico, The Seven Year Itch, The Heidi Chronicles, Playreadings of Picturing My Sister & Simply Maria, or the American Dream, and Be Aggressive (U/S, AD). Other work in San Diego includes The Crucible (Moxie/Intrepid), Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Compass) and The Little Dog Laughed (Diversionary).
To enhance this play that is all about marriage and romantic love, NVA has hired a husband and wife team to design the set, costumes and sound. Ensemble Members (and married couple) Tim Wallace and Amanda Sitton will be creating the world of the treehouse in 1960's Florida, with new Ensemble member Christopher Loren Renda designing the lights and Ensemble Member Bonnie Durben on props. Ashley Watkins serves as Stage Manager.

Executive Artistic Director Kristianne Kurner found the script on a trip to New York City after meeting with the staff of Labyrinth Theatre. "I'm thrilled to be able to share this beautiful, romantic play with our patrons and community. It's a wonderful actor vehicle and a touching love story with depth and meaning." New Village Arts production of SWEET STORM is the West Coast Premiere and only the second production of the play outside of New York City.

Ticket prices range from $25 - $30 for all performances, with the exception of three pay-what-you-can previews on April 20, 21 & 22 at 8 PM. Showtimes are Thursdays and Fridays at 8 PM; Saturdays at 3 PM & 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM (no 3 PM show on Opening Night, April 23 or 8 PM show on Saturday, April 30). The theatre is located in the heart of Carlsbad Village, at 2787 State Street. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.NewVillageArts.org or calling 760-433-3245.

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