THE END OF IT Begins Tonight at the Matrix Theatre

End LA and Scott Disharoon have announced they will present The End Of It, a new play by Paul Coates, for a limited engagement at the Matrix Theatre on Melrose with previews beginning tonight, Saturday, September 7, and opening set for Saturday, September 14 at 8pm. Directed by three-time Ovation Award-winner Nick DeGruccio, the world premiere of The End Of It will run through October 20.

The End Of It tells the tale of three couples (one gay, one straight, one lesbian) who simultaneously confront the possible dissolution of a twenty-year relationship. The honest, humorous, and frank situation delivers a voyeuristic powerful punch as the couples erupt with anger, blame, grief, and ultimately acceptance that this may in fact be the end of it.

The cast will feature (in alphabetical order) William Franklin Barker, Leslie Bartlett, Paul Coates, Ferrell Marshall, Kelly Coffield Park, Wendy Radford, and David Youse. The scenic design is by Francois-Pierre Couture, lighting design is by Steven Young, costume design is by Morgan DeGroff, and sound design is by Ollie Marland. The production stage manager is Todd Nielsen.

Playwright Paul Coates is a writer, actor and producer. His first play, Desire!, was produced off-Broadway and at the Colony Theatre in Burbank (where he directed it himself). His play The High Life received an off-Broadway workshop production, and Hypno-Lite was produced regionally. His collection of short plays, Acts Of Desperation, won the LATC Monologue Competition. Other plays include Kathy Good and Speaking Of Bill. As an actor, Coates has appeared in productions of The Elephant Man, The Life And Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Wild Oats, As You Like It, The Chalk Garden, The Man Who Couldn't Dance, The Kentucky Cycle, Titanic, and Hobson's Choice, among many others. Coates is the owner and president of iManage Talent & Literary Management.

Director Nick DeGruccio is a multi-award-winning director, coach and teacher. His productions include Next To Normal, The Laramie Project, Jekyll & Hyde, 1776, Putting It Together, A Year With Frog and Toad, Cinderella, My Way, Man of La Mancha, Rent, The Andrews Brothers, Guys and Dolls, Side Show, The Spitfire Grill, Zanna Don't!, Basic Training, Side by Side by Sondheim, La Cage Aux Folles, The Last Five Years, I Do! I Do!, City of Angels, The Full Monty, and the world premiere of Caught at the Zephyr Theatre, among many others. As the artistic director and founder of Havok Theatre Company he directed the LA premieres of Dog Sees God, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Thrill Me, and The Story Of My Life. DeGruccio is an alumnus of the Lincoln Center Theatre Director's Lab West.

There will be four preview performances of The End Of It on Saturday, September 7 at 8pm; Sunday, September 8 at 5pm; Thursday, September 12 at 8pm; and Friday, September 13 at 8pm. Opening is set for Saturday, September 14 at 8pm. The regular performance schedule will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 5pm through October 20 only. All seats are $30.Tickets can be purchased online at www.plays411.com/theend or via phone by calling (323) 960-4418.
The Matrix Theatre is located at 7657 Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, 90046. Ample street parking is available.

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