THAT PERFECT MOMENT Comes To NoHo Arts Center 10/3-11/8

If you don't remember the '60s... you were probably there!

Rick Sparks directs Guerin Barry, John Bigham, Bruce Katzman, Kelly Lester and Tait Ruppert in a world premiere comedy about lost dreams set in the San Fernando Valley. That Perfect Moment by Charles Bartlett and Jack Cooper runs October 3 through November 8 at the NoHo Arts Center. Two low-priced previews take place on Thursday and Friday, October 1 and 2.

That Perfect Moment is the story of four aging baby boomers in the Valley desperate to recover their lost youth. Will they ever be able to recapture "that perfect moment," half a lifetime ago, when they were cool and their band was hot?

"We wanted to explore the struggle between the 'road not taken' versus 'the road beneath our feet'," explain the playwrights. Bartlett, with an MFA from the Yale School of Drama, is a successful actor and voiceover artist who joined forces with longtime friend Cooper, a respected poet, to pen their first full-length play.

"We started out to write something about our generation, and music was such a big part of the '60s. The play isn't autobiographical, but the characters are all based on people we knew back then," says Cooper. "We had fun with it. One 'inside joke' is that all the characters are named after streets in the Valley."

"But the more we wrote," chimes in Bartlett, "the more it became an expression of who we are, of our own regrets and joys, fears and hopes. That's the heart of it: the gap between the mile high, psychedelic fantasies of long haired, idealistic boys and the bitter-sweet realities of grown men trying to hold together their relationships and their lives. That final reality-check is both painful and hilarious."

With original songs by Sky Keegan, a singer/songwriter from the '60s whose portfolio was purchased by Paul McCartney, and playful costumes by Sharell Martin (The Marvelous Wondrettes, It's the Housewives!), That Perfect Moment is both humorous and poignant.

Multiple-award winning director (and San Fernando Valley native) Sparks concludes, "Humans thrive on validation. It's a sweet moment when we feel validated. But our memory of the first big time we felt special and made a difference - that will forever live as 'That Perfect Moment'."

Most recently, Sparks staged and directed the simultaneously running Divorce! The Musical and Schoolhouse Rock Live Too!, both of which made the Los Angeles Times "Critic's Choice" list - prompting a full-length profile of Sparks in the Calendar section this past July. Two weeks later, Rick was featured in Back Stage as one of "10 Directors You Should Know" in an article noting his "sterling reputation for directing, writing, choreography, sound design, and producing." Rick's directing credits include the critically acclaimed L.A. premiere of Psycho Beach Party by Charles Busch; his own multiple award-winning adaptation and staging of They Shoot Horses, Don't They?; a rock 'n roll adaptation of A Clockwork Orange (his second LA Drama Critic's Circle win for Direction); Down South, which moved to New York after a long L.A. run; The Nothing Boys (produced by TV's 'Entourage' producer Rob Weiss); Laguna Playhouse's West Coast premiere of Don't Talk to the Actors; The Colony Theater's critically acclaimed production of Clutter; and John Patrick Shanley's West Coast premiere of Where's My Money?. Rick's attraction to comedy inspired him to direct and co-write/produce Highballs Ahoy! (a parody of cruise ship disaster films); A Charlie Brown Commercial Christmas; and the cult hit Dead Bride Running, the saga of real-life bug-eyed 'Runaway Bride,' Jennifer Willbanks.

Actor-turned-playwright Charles Bartlett has been 1000 voices in 1000 pictures, from the cow in Babe to the Borg in Star Trek. Mr. Bartlett started his career in Chicago as an original member of the Body Politic Theatre Company, working with legendary Paul Sills and Viola Spolin. In New York, Mr. Bartlett appeared in the Tony Award-winning Story Theatre; in Jean Genet's The Screens at the Chelsea Theatre Center; and in The Public Theatre's acclaimed production of Much Ado About Nothing in Central Park, which transferred to Broadway and was turned into a CBS special. He both acted and taught at the famed Manhattan Theatre Club, and worked in many regional venues. Coming to Los Angeles after his years in the Big Apple, Charles did TV and film roles throughout the '80s and '90s, ranging from The Dukes of Hazzard to TJ Hooker to Murphy Brown. He holds a BA from the State University of New York at Albany, and an MFA from the Yale School of Drama. With his long time friend and partner, Jack Cooper, Charles has penned a number of works, including the recently published one-act play about fathers and sons and life in mid-century America, called, Buckshot: A Boy's Christmas in Texas.

Jack Cooper is a widely published poet whose work has appeared in many regional and national journals, including California Quarterly, Runes, Georgetown Review, Argestes and the Meridian Anthology. His first formal book, Across My Silence, was published by World Audience, Inc., NY in 2007, from which his poem, "Transitory Endings," was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. In Hollywood, he worked as a staff writer for Goodson-Todman Productions on the game show Trivia Trap, as a free lance script reader for various production companies, and co-penned the campy teen classic Going All The Way with screenwriter Roger Stone. Mr. Cooper, who works in communications and marketing, holds degrees in biology, psychology and English. He has collaborated with Charles Bartlett on several writing projects during their 30-year friendship. Their one-act period play, Buckshot, A Boy's Christmas in Texas, was published in March 2007 by Audience Magazine, New York, NY.

Sky Keegan is a songwriter, artist, and producer whose first national record release, "Memphis Miracle," is referenced in the anthology, "Elvis: His Life from A-Z." As a songwriter, Sky has had three records on the national rhythm and blues charts: "That's the Way the Wind Blows," "Lost in a Love Zone" and "42nd Street." He has had additional Rock and R&B tunes released nationally by Sugarloaf and other artists, and was published by Claridge Music (Jersey Boys). His catalog was acquired by Paul McCartney's MPL Communications. Sky has graced the stage performing with and opening for artists such as Loudon Wainright III, Dave Van Ronk, Richie Havens, Patti Smith, Orleans, New York Dolls, Jonathon Edwards, Martin Mull & His Magic Midget Band, Elephants Memory (John Lennon's back up band), David Bromberg, and Michael Murphy. In advance of his album of new songs, he's released the EP, "Stagedoor."

Set Design for That Perfect Moment is by Adam Flemming; Costume Design is by Sharell Martin; Lighting Design is by Jeremy Pivnick; Sound Design is by Joseph "Sloe" Slawinski; Wigs and Hair Design is by Diane Martinous; Production Stage Manager is Jacob Holt; and Racquel Lehrman/Theatre Planners produces.

Performances of That Perfect Moment take place Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 3 pm, October 3 through November 8. There are two preview performances on Thursday, October 1 and Friday, October 2 at 8 pm. Tickets are $25.00, except Opening Night (October 3) which is $30.00 and includes a catered reception with the actors, and previews which are 12.50. Seniors 65 and older receive $5.00 off the ticket price with the promo code SENIOR. The NoHo Arts Center is located at 11136 Magnolia Boulevard in NoHo (North Hollywood, 91601). The NoHo Arts Center is air-conditioned and wheelchair accessible. For reservations and information, call 323-960-7745 or go to www.plays411.com/perfect.

 

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