THE REAL THING Kicks Off The Katselas Theatre's 2009 Season On 4/24

The Katselas Theatre Company (formerly Camelot Artists) debuts its 2009 Season with the revival of Tony Award-winning British playwright Sir Tom Stoppard’s masterwork, The Real Thing.   Stoppard combines his characteristically brilliant wordplay and wit with flashes of insight that illuminate the nature--and the mystery--of love, creating a multi-toned play that challenges the mind while searching out the innermost secrets of the heart.  Directed by Allen Barton, The Real Thing opens Saturday, May 2 at the Skylight Theatre in Hollywood.  Producing is Gary Grossman.

Originally born Tomás Straüssler in Czechoslovakia in 1937, Stoppard began writing plays for radio and television, including The Stand-Ins, later revised for the stage as The Real Inspector Hound (1968). Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead premiered on Broadway in 1967, winning a Tony Award for Best Play in 1968. Other works include Albert's Bridge (1969), Jumpers (1972), Travesties (a 1975 Tony winner for Best Play) and On the Razzle (1982).
Originally produced in 1982, The Real Thing examines the nature of honesty; and its use of a play-within-a-play is one of many levels on which the author teases the audience with the difference between semblance and reality. This play combines the intellectual and verbal gymnastics of Stoppard at his most witty with some of his most tender and touching writing. Tom Stoppard was knighted in 1997. He lives in London. His latest plays are Heroes (2005) and Rock n Roll (2006).

Allen Barton most recently directed Camelot’s production of Rabbit Hole (2008). A frequent director for the company, he has also helmed  The Last Five Years (2007), as well as the world premiere of About Faith (2001), and Pink Dot (2005), Suzanne Whang’s hit one-person show, I Make You Laughing (2005) and Baja Fresh (2007). In 2006, he directed Guerilla Rep’s inaugural Los Angeles production of Burn This. Allen has written & directed five short films including Cannes in 1999 and Reach Out.  His first feature screenplay, Real Music, was a top-three finalist in the 2005 CAPE New Writers Award Competition.  Barton serves as Executive Director of the Beverly Hills Playhouse, where he is also on the teaching staff.

The cast of The Real Thing includes Sue Duerden, Jeffrey Frost, Jay Huguley, Roddy Jessup, Kristina Kreyling, Amanda Kruger,Peter Leake, Anastasia Lofgren, Ally Wolfe and Michael Yavnieli.  Lighting is by J. Kent Inasy. Sound design is by David Bartlett.

The Real Thing previews are April 24, 25, 26, May 1.   Opening Weekend is Saturday, May 2 at 8pm, Sunday May 3 at 7pm.  Performances continue Fri, Sat @ 8 pm /Sun @ 7pm, until Sunday, May 31, 2009.  Skylight Theatre is located at 1816 Vermont Avenue, Hollywood, CA.  Ticket Prices are: General - $25; students - $15.  For tickets call:  310-358-9936. For General Information visit: www.katselastheatre.org.

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