The Lost Studio Presents the American Premiere of Alan Ayckbourn's CONFUSIONS, 1/15-3/7

A matchless quintet of interlinked plays by Britain's best-loved comic playwright, illustrates the hilarious consequences of not listening to one another.  Ayckbourn's overlapping characters are alternately naturalistic and farcical - quirky, neurotic, self-important, and hysterical.  Whether the comedy concerns marital conflict, infidelity, motherhood, or manhood; is set on a park bench or at a village fete, the characters reveal a LOL timeless familiarity in their desperation to make contact with one another. Ayckbourn's American premiere of CONFUSIONS will be staged by the Lost Studio from January 15 - March 7, 2010, in Los Angeles.
 
SIR Alan Ayckbourn (Playwright) has written over 73 comedies, many of which have been produced in the West End, at the National Theatre, and on Broadway.  His more noted works include BEDROOM FARCE, WOMAN IN MIND, A CHORUS OF DISAPPROVAL, THE IRREGULAR VERB OF LOVE, ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR, and THE NORMAN CONQUESTS (the hit production which moved from London to New York last season for an extended run).
 
Ayckbourn wrote CONFUSIONS following THE NORMAN CONQUESTS and similar to that play, this series of stories contains astutely drawn characters and situations, both touching and farcical.  Ayckbourn has won over 40 awards (including the TONY AWARD) for his plays, which have been translated in 35 languages and performed worldwide on stage and in television.

Director John Pleshette returns to the Lost Studio with much of the same cast from last season's comedy hit MAMMALS.  As part of The Lost Studio's Pinter Project, John directed OLD TIMES in 2008 and MOONLIGHT in 2007.  His production of THE CARETAKER won the LA Weekly Award for Best Revival.  For his 2006 production of NO MAN'S LAND, he received a Best Director nomination.  John's productions of Jules Feiffer's LITTLE MURDERS and the Los Angeles premiere of THE ARRANGEMENT garnered a Critics' Choice by the L.A. Times.  He directed John Ford Noonan's A CRITIC AND HIS WIFE at the Matrix and the playwright's ORIENTATION WEEK at both the Back Alley and the Santa Monica Playhouse.  In New York, he staged premieres of Jonathan Levy's THE PORNOGRAPHER'S DAUGHTER and MARCO POLO for Manhattan Theatre Club.   

LYNN PLESHETTE (Producer) has worked with numerous screenwriters and authors including Annie Proulx (BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN), Deena Goldstone (SAFE PASSAGE), Jane Smiley (A THOUSAND ACRES), Andrew Niccol (THE TRUMAN SHOW), Scott Smith (THE SIMPLE PLAN),  David Jacobs (the creator of the series DALLAS), Barbara Turner (GEORGIA and POLLOCK), and Arthur Golden (MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA).  She received Executive Producer credit on the feature films THE TRUMAN SHOW and Mary Reilly.  Last season Lynn produced the critically acclaimed production of MAMMALS at The Lost Studio.

Cast:

MINA BADIE (Lucy) has appeared at the Royal Court Theater in the roles of Ophelia in HAMLET, Clarissa in THE SEVEN LEARS, and the Gaoler's daughter in THE TWO NOBLE KINGSMEN.  In New York she was seen in SONG OF SONGS, PARADISE LOST and the VAGINA MONOLOGUES.  Los Angeles and San Francisco stage credits include Dorthea in ELEEMOSYNARY, Tammy in ROCKY MOUNTAIN SUNDAY, and Charmian in ANTHONY AND CLEOPATRA.  She played Jane in MAMMALS at the Lost Studio Theater.   FILM credits include ROAD TO PERDITION, MIND THE GAP, and GREENBERG (due out in 2010).   TV credits include 24, COLD CASE, THE CLOSER and 11th HOUR. 
 
BRENDAN HUNT (Arthur, Harry, The Waiter, Stewart) has performed with some regularity at Sacred Fools Theatre, in shows such as THE SWINE SHOW, SAVIN' UP FOR SATURDAY NIGHT and THE SITCOM PILOTS OF Harold Pinter.  He improvises every Tuesday at iO with the group Sweetness and occasionally performs the rock show ELVIS PRESTELLO: This Year's Muddle.  Brendan's one-man show FIVE YEARS IN AMSTERDAM has been performed internationally, most notably at the HBO US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen.
 
PHOEBE JAMES (Beryl, Paula, Polly) has worked on New York and Los Angeles stages.  Her credits include the US premiere of Amelia Bullmore's MAMMALS at the Lost Studio, and Mike Leigh's ABIGAIL'S PARTY at the Odyssey Theatre.  Phoebe can also be seen in Noah Baumbach's upcoming film GREENBERG.
 
ADRIAN NEIL (Mr. Pearce, Bar Waiter, Gosforth, Charles) appeared locally in MAMMALS at the Lost Studios, ALFIE at the Met theatre (LA Weekly best actor nominee), A CHORUS OF DISAPPROVAL at the Odyssey Theatre, and NOISES OFF at the Pasadena Playhouse.  Elsewhere, selected credits include CANTERBURY TALES at the Garrick Theatre, BURN THIS at Theatre Royal, Plymouth, and A WINTER'S TALE at Dukes Head Theatre, Richmond.  FILM credits include: OCEAN'S 13, STACY'S MOM, BRUCE ALMIGHTY, EXPOSED, and STRAIGHT JACKET among others.  Selected TV appearances include CSI-NY, 24, iCARLY, ENTOURAGE, LAS VEGAS, KING OF QUEENS, PROVIDENCE, STATE OF GRACE , and JUST SHOOT ME.
 
Abigail Revasch (Rosemary, Bernice) returns to the Lost Studio after her appearance as 4-year-old Betty in MAMMALS.  Other Los Angeles theatre credits include DEALING WITH CLAIR at the Matrix Theatre, HOUSE at the Falcon Theatre and LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES at Pasadena Playhouse.  In New York, she originated the role of The Girl in the Off-Broadway production of THE GREY ZONE (5 Obies) at Manhattan Class Company, and later reprised the role at The Long Wharf Theatre.  Other theatrical credits include Milwaukee Rep, Portland Rep, Actors Theatre of Louisville, and Steppenwolf.  TV credits include ER, WITHOUT A TRACE, SHE SPIES, and ONCE AND AGAIN among others.
 
BRIDGET ANN WHITE (Mrs. Pearce, Doreen) competed nationally as a gymnast and has had a career as a dancer, choreographer and musical theatre performer.  Selected credits include Broadway: Cora in THE Will Rogers FOLLIES.  National Tours: Mitzi in ZIEGFELD: A Night at the Follies.  Off-Broadway: Lottie Burke in Keen Company's production of GOOD MORNING, BILL.  Regional Theatre:  The title role in SYLVIA, Sonia in Yasmina Reza's LIFE (X's) 3, Cari in THE PAVILION by Craig Wright, Elizabeth Nietche in SHADENFREUDE, Martha Jefferson in Thomas Jefferson DINES ALONE and others.  FILM credits include: 5 DOLLARS A DAY w/ Christopher Walken, EVAN ALMIGHTY, BOUND BY A SECRET, DETENTION, and NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.  TV:  CSI, STATE OF MIND, THE DISTRICT, ARLI$, STAR TREK; DEEP SPACE 9, ABOUT A BOY, RUDE AWAKENING, TO HAVE AND TO HOLD, the "elusive" Oliva/Cameron on ONE LIFE TO LIVE and others.
 
STEVE WILCOX (Terry, Martin, Vicar, Ernest) was seen in SEXO, PUDOR Y LAGRIMAS (Sex, Shame, and Tears) in both English and Spanish and KING LEAR at the MET as well as A PRAYER FOR MTY DAUGHTER at the St. Genesius Theatre.  FILM credits include AMERICAN ME, WHITE MAN'S BURDEN and LA HORA CERO, a Venezuelan film due out this year. 
 
Design Team:

JOSEPH 'SLOE' SLAWINSKI (Sound Design) designs sound for both stage and film.  He recently worked on THE PERFECT MOMENT at NoHo Arts Center and at Rogue Machine where designed sound for their award nominated world premiere production of TREEFALL (Ovation Award nomionation) as well as designing sound for Steppenwolf playwright Lisa Dillman's Los Angeles premiere of HALF OF PLENTY.  Joseph just completed production on the short film THE GREAT FANTASTIC. 
 
CARRIE LaFERLE (Lighting Designer) recently designed lights for ANATOMY OF A SLAP at the Son of Semele Theatre.  She has designed for shows such as Will Rogers FOLLIES, I LOVE YOU YOU'RE PREFECT NOW CHANGE, MISERY, A CHORUS LINE, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, LITTLE WOMEN, and CABARET.  Carrie has worked with Meadowbrook Theatre, the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre, and Performance Network in Michigan. 

CONFUSIONS opens on Friday, January 15th and runs through March 7, 2010. Preview performance is on Thursday, January 14, 2010. Performances are on Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 4pm at THE LOST STUDIO located at 130 S. La Brea Avenue (between 1st & 2nd) in Los Angeles, CA 90036.  Tickets are $25. 

For reservations call (323) 960-5775 or online at www.plays411.com/confusions

 

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