Ruskin Group Theatre to Present World Premiere of Justin Yoffe's THE GUN

Kicking off the 2017 Season at Ruskin Group Theatre, Dave Florek directs the World Premiere of Justin Yoffe's THE GUN.

During their second decade of bringing Los Angeles audiences outstanding entertainment, the company continues to celebrate the essence of the arts and humanity, within the microcosm of theatre. In this new work the playwright poses the question, "why is it so hard to recognize unhappiness and find the strength to change?"

You are who you pretend to be, until the day you wake up when the sun is shining just right, and you look in the mirror and wonder...is this ALL I wanted? After a failed callback for a Broadway show, a struggling actor has a sudden change of fortune while heading back to his childhood friend's upscale apartment. Now infused with his newly found confidence and honesty, he unapologetically tries to save those around him. In doing so, he wreaks havoc with his bid for change in order to find happiness. Is living a truthful life really possible?

"This play is about second chances, redemption...forgiveness. Steve finds a gun in a New York City alley and it forever changes his life and the lives of his best friends Mike and Ellen. As they face their anger, hurt, and fear they find the freedom to boldly take the first glorious steps into a brighter future." - Dave Florek

Director Playwright Justin Yoffe is known as a screenwriter as well as working on numerous projects as a ghostwriter. He is acclaimed for having authored over a dozen screenplays, several stage plays and three full-length biographies. Justin is an EMMY Award winning producer and currently serves as the Cultural Venue Supervisor for the City of Santa Monica managing the Miles Memorial Playhouse and the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. Justin is the founder and executive director of Arts Earth Partnership, the first green business certification program specifically designed for Arts & Cultural organizations in the country. He received his B.F.A and M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.

"We only have one pass at this life, and every day is too precious to waste. I wanted to explore the "traps" or routines that we so easily fall into in to, sometimes unhappily for our entire adult lives, without feeling as though we have the ability to change our course." - Justin Yoffe

Director Dave Florek helmed Stephen Metcalfe's Tragedy of the Commons at The Ruskin. At The Interact Theater Company he directed I Never Sang for My Father, Rabbit Hole, Vikings, and Marvin's Room among others. Selected Regional credits include Jerry Cleveland's Jerry and Tom, Madagascar, Athol Fugard's Exits and Entrances and Lincoln Park Zoo by Richard Strand. As an actor Dave was a series regular on Grace Under Fire, and Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide. He appeared for two seasons as Coach Smiley on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

Ruskin Group Theatre launched the World Premiere of Rex Pickett's Sideways The Play, picked up by La Jolla Playhouse and now slated for Broadway, as well as the project Paradise, A Bluegrass Musical Comedy. Ruskin's Healing Through The Arts program brings their actors into Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA, where they are working with the Chase Child Life Program, to work with and entertain the patients.

The CAFÉ PLAYS, created by RGT, are produced and now celebrating their 12th anniversary. RGT supporters Dylan McDermott, Ed Asner, Chris Mulkey, Olivia d'Abo, and other industry celebrities joined to produce the Best of Café Plays (both shows sold out within hours) for their 10th season. Anthony Hopkins, David Mamet, Tony Franciosa, and Ed O'Neill are just some of the noted guests to have taught Master classes at the Ruskin.

John Ruskin (Artistic Director/Producer) founded the professional company in 2001. He helmed their critically acclaimed production of Strange Snow and teaches a Master's Class in acting at RGT. John's 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 in addition to the professional theatre company. He provides outreach through RGT with their "Healing Through the Arts" project. Presently, this includes taking RGT actors into Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA to work with and entertain the patients.

Michael Myers (Producer/Managing Director) has produced more than 70 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 popular CAFÉ PLAYS, the monthly offering of one-acts that are done in 10 1/2 hours from conception to staging. He serves as chair of the Santa Monica Arts Commission. Mike recently produced the world premiere hit production of Rex Pickett's Sideways The Play and Paradise: A Divine Blue Grass Musical Comedy.

Cast: John Colella, Josh Drennen, Austin Highsmith Garces, Hamilton Matthews, Rachel Pollack, L. Emille Thomas, and Mouchette Van Helsdingen.

Production Team: Mike Reilly (Production Manager), Hillary Bauman (Scenic Design), Edward Salas (Lighting Designer), Sarah Figoten Wilson (Costume Design), Hannah Florek (Music Composer), and Nicole Millar (Stage Manager).

The Gun opens at 8pm on Saturday, March 18th and runs at 8pm Fridays and Saturdays, and 2pm on Sundays through April 30, 2017 (No performances April 14-16, or on April 29th). Ruskin Group Theatre is located at 3000 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90405. Tickets are $25 ($20 for students, seniors, and guild members) and can be purchased in advance by calling (310) 397-3244 or online at www.ruskingrouptheatre.com. Ample free parking available on site. Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/171460689597145.

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