Photo Flash: Actor's Co-Op Presents OUR TOWN

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2014 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for 110 in the Shade) presents the first show in its celebratory 25th Silver Anniversary season with OUR TOWN, by Thornton Wilder and directed by Richard Israel. OUR TOWN will preview on Wednesday, September 14 and Thursday, September 15 at 8pm and will open on Friday, September 16 at 8pm and run through Sunday, October 23 at the Actors Co-op David Schall Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

No curtain. No scenery. Arguably the most famous American play ever written, OUR TOWN has entertained generations of audiences. In this exciting multi-cultural version, told by an ethnically-diverse cast of 17, Thornton Wilder's Pulitzer-winning drama set in Grover's Corners remains as poignant and relevant today as it was in 1938 - a timeless story about living, love and loss and appreciating life and its quiet moments to their fullest.

Thornton Wilder (Playwright) (1897-1975) was a novelist and playwright whose works celebrate the connection between the commonplace and the cosmic dimensions of human experience. He is the only writer to win Pulitzer Prizes for both drama and fiction: for his novel "The Bridge of San Luis Rey," and two plays, Our Town and The Skin of Our Teeth. His other novels include "The Cabala," "The Woman of Andros," "Heaven's My Destination," "The Ides of March," "The Eighth Day" and "Theophilus North." His other major dramas include The Matchmaker (adapted as the musical Hello, Dolly!) and The Alcestiad. The Happy Journey to Trenton and Camden, PULLMAN CAR HIAWATHA and The Long Christmas Dinner are among his well-known shorter plays. He enjoyed enormous success as a translator, adaptor, actor, librettist and lecturer/teacher and his screenplay for Alfred Hitchcock's "Shadow of a Doubt" remains a classic psycho-thriller to this day. Wilder's many honors include the Gold Medal for Fiction from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. More information on Thornton Wilder and his family is available in Penelope Niven's definitive biography, Thornton Wilder: A Life (2013) as well as on the Wilder Family website, www.thorntonwilder.com

Richard Israel (Director) For Actors Co-op, Israel directed last season's The Baker's Wife and 110 In The Shade (L.A. Stage Alliance Ovation Award for Outstanding Musical in an Intimate Venue), as well as 1776, Big River, Leading Ladies and Merrily We Roll Along. Recent directing credits include the original Jeff Marx/Fat Mike musical Home Street Home, as well as Bronies! The Musical, Spring Awakening and Floyd Collins (L.A. Stage Alliance Ovation Awards for Directing and Outstanding Musical in a Large Venue). Other directing credits include Kiss Me Kate for Cabrillo Music Theatre, Glorious! for ICT, Avenue Q for DOMA Theatre and the multiple-Ovation nominated Having It All for the Laguna Playhouse. For Third Street Theatre, he has directed the West coast premiere of The Burnt Part Boys, The Full Monty and Falsettos, and for West Coast Ensemble Theatre, he has directed Gypsy, Assassins, Big and the west coast premiere of Anita Bryant Died For Your Sins. For the Musical Theatre Guild he has directed Road Show, High Fidelity and Violet, among others. He is the recipient of the L.A. Drama Critics Circle Career Achievement Award for Directing and is a proud member of SDC.

The Cast of OUR TOWN will feature (in alphabetical order): Eva Abramian, Joseph Arujo, David Atkinson, Vanessa Benavente, Heather Chesley, Shannon Dieriex, RJ Farrington, Tim Hodgin, Deanna Hudgens, CrystAl Jackson, Isabella Magas, Deborah Marlowe, Christopher Salazar, James Simenc, Gunnar Sizemore, Richard Soto and Michael Worden.

OUR TOWN has assembled an award-winning design team. Set Design is by Rich Rose. Lighting Design is by Lisa D. Katz. Costume Design is by Vicki Conrad. The Stage Manager is Amanda Rountree. OUR TOWN is produced by Lauren Thompson.

OUR TOWN will preview on Wednesday, September 14 and Thursday, September 15 at 8pm and will open on Friday, September 16 at 8pm and run through Sunday, October 23 at the Actors Co-op David Schall Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

Performances are Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00pm and Sundays at 2:30pm (with Saturday Matinees scheduled for Saturday, September 24 and October 22 at 2:30pm).

Ticket prices are $30.00 for all Performances. Seniors (60 and over) - $25 and Students - $20.00 - with Student Rush Tickets available at Friday performances (excluding opening nights) on a first-come, first-serve basis subject to availability. Rush tickets are priced at 1/2 off regular adult tickets price. Tickets may only be purchased 45 minutes prior to curtain at the box office window. Valid Student ID must be shown. One ticket per ID. Cash only, please.

To learn more about Student Rush Tickets, please call the box office at (323) 462-8460. Group rates are available for parties of 6 or more.

Tickets may be purchased by phone at (323) 462-8460 or visit www.ActorsCo-op.org.

Actors Co-op operates two 99-seat Equity-approved theatres on the campus of First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood. Actors Co-op began in 1987 with a dozen actors. Currently, its membership exceeds 50 professionals. Called "a 99-seat miracle" by Daily Variety, Actors Co-op's numerous awards for theatre excellence include the Los Angeles Drama Critics Polly Warfield Award for "Outstanding Season" (2013) in a small to mid-sized theatre, the Margaret Harford Award for "Sustained Achievement" in smaller theatre from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, the Charlie Award for "Excellence in the Arts" by the Hollywood Arts Council, as well as numerous Ovation Award nominations and wins including a nomination for "Best Season" (2013-2014) and win for Best Musical (2014).

Since the Crossley Theatre opened its doors in April of 1989 and its second theatre, the David Schall Theatre opened February of 1995, Actors Co-op has produced over 100 main stage productions, over 40 Second Stage productions, staged readings of original works, and has received 23 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards (seven wins), 34 LA Weekly Award nominations (six wins), 38 Ovation Award nominations (five wins), five Garland Awards and 125 Drama-Logue Awards.

Actors Co-op is located at 1760 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, CA 90028, on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, one block north of Hollywood Boulevard, just off the Gower Street exit of the 101 Hollywood Freeway. Free, well-lit parking is available on Carlos Street (1/2 block east of Gower). Entrance to the theatre is on Carlos Avenue.

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