Ruskin Group Theatre Presents PARIS, SOLVIT KIDS, 4/13-5/19

Two new plays, penned by two young playwrights will be presented as a double bill at the Ruskin Group Theatre.  Following in their parent's vocational footsteps, and teaming up for a limited run with this world premiere production, the duo will have their work staged for the very first time. 

In Paris, sharp wit during an unintentional “heart to heart” becomes a pivotal meeting between a daughter and her father.   

In The Solvit Kids, Bradley Phillips and Annie Wyatt are the stars of the world-renowned “Solvit Kids” movies.  The author of the series, which is based on the popular children's books, dies just as he is finishing the last installment. Annie and Brad are left with the rights to release it, but when something goes horribly wrong it is up to the former “Solvit Kids” to come up with a solution.

Paul Sand (Director) received a TONY AWARD for his work on Broadway in Story Theatre, and a DRAMA DESK AWARD for The Mad Show.  He is an original member of "The Second City."  Film credits include The Hot Rock (withRobert Redford and Main Event (with Barbara Streisand).  Favorite TV credits are his own show Friends and Lovers, and all shows in which he got to play the “boyfriend” of leading ladies such as Mary Tyler Moore, Carol Burnett, Valerie Harper, and many more.  Currently The Second City company is producing Paul’s play, Possible Dangerous Side Effects.

PARIS and THE SOLVIT KIDS opens on April 13, 2012, with an intermission between plays.  Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm through May 19, 2012.  Ruskin Group Theatre is located at 3000 Airport Road, Santa Monica, CA 90405. Tickets are $10. Reservations: (310) 397-3244 orhttp://www.ruskingrouptheatre.com/

Clara Mamet (Playwright/Actress) is a young playwright/actress whose works include The Applegates, and Cantaloupe.  As an actress, her credits include the Barry Levinson HBO movie Phil Spector (with Al Pacino), due out later this year, and the untitled Dan Fogelman project, which is a new pilot for ABC.  Clara appeared in rehearsed readings of The Solvit Kids at the Broad Theater in Los Angeles, and at the Atlantic Theater Company in New York.

JACK QUAID (Playwright/Actor) is a young Los Angeles writer/actor, currently in the Tisch Program at NYU. He is a member of the improv group Hammerkatz and creator of the YouTube sketch series Epicfest. He recently appeared in the major motion picture, THE HUNGER GAMES.

JOHN PIRRUCCELLO (Father) plays Nick Stavros in the upcoming HBO Barry Levinson movie Phil Spector, written and directed by David Mamet. He has appeared in numerous films and on television including, Up All Night, Lie To Me, The Mentalist, Two and a Half Men and more. 

JOHN RUSKIN (Artistic Director) helmed the roduction of Strange Snow at RGT.  His years of experience include studies at the Yale School of Drama, British American Drama Academy in Oxford, England, and the University of Colorado in Boulder.  In New York, Ruskin joined the acting faculty of The Neighborhood Playhouse at the request of Sanford Meisner (who he then apprenticed with) before moving to Los Angeles where he founded his own school of acting and a professional theatre company.  The company provides outreach programs to people in need with their "Healing Through the Arts" project.

Michael Myers (Producer/Managing Director) has produced more than 65 projects since 2002.  He recently directed the world premiere of Digging Up Dad and the critically acclaimed production of Faithful at RGT.  Mike is a co-creator of the Ruskin Group Theatre’s well attended CAFÉ PLAYS, the monthly offering of one-acts that are done in 10 ½ hours from conception to staging.  He serves as vice-chair of the Santa Monica Arts Commission.