The Road Theatre Co Presents THE WATER’S EDGE; Opens Tonight

The Road Theatre Company and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, have announced in this, their 21st season, the Los Angeles premiere of THE WATER'S EDGE, written by Theresa Rebeck (Broadway's Seminar; Bad Dates, Mauritius) and directed by Sam Anderson ("Lost," Blackbird).

THE WATER'S EDGE previewed on Tuesday, January 17 at 8pm and Thursday, January 19 at 8pm and will open tonight, January 20 at 8pm and run through Saturday, March 10 at the Historic Lankershim Arts Center, 5108 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood, CA.

From Pulitzer Prize finalist and writer of such acclaimed TV drama's as "NYPD Blue" and "Law and Order: Criminal Intent" comes a searing family drama about loss, grief and revenge, with a shocking twist.

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM AND CAST

Theresa Rebeck (Playwright) is a widely produced playwright throughout the United States and abroad. Her works include Mauritius, The Scene, The Water's Edge, Spike Heels, Loose Knit and The Family of Mann at Second Stage; Bad Dates and The Butterfly Collection at Playwrights Horizons; and View of the Dome at New York Theatre Workshop. Omnium Gatherum (co-written with Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros, and finalist for the Pulitzer Prize) was featured at the Humana Festival 2003, and had a commercial run at the Variety Arts. Publications include her Collected Plays and Free Fire Zone, a book of comedic essays about writing and show business (all by Smith and Kraus). Her first novel, Three Sisters and Their Brother, was published in March 2008 by Shaye Areheart Books, a division of Random House. In television, Rebeck has written for "Dream On," "Brooklyn Bridge," "L.A. Law," "Maximum Bob," "First Wave," "Third Watch," and "NYPD Blue," where she also worked as a producer. Produced features include Harriet the Spy, Gossip, and the independent feature Sunday on the Rocks. Awards include the Mystery Writer's of America's Edgar Award, the Writer's Guild of America award for Episodic Drama, the Hispanic Images Imagen Award, and the Peabody, all for her work on "NYPD Blue." She has been a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn prize twice, won The National Theatre Conference Award (for The Family of Mann), and was awarded the William Inge New Voices Playwriting Award in 2003. Rebeck holds a PhD. from Brandeis University in Victorian Melodrama. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband Jess Lynn and two children, Cooper and Cleo.

Sam Anderson (Director) Co-Artistic Director of the Road Theatre Company, recently completed a five-year run as Bernard on ABC's megahit LOST. In a film and television career spanning thirty years and close to 200 roles, some of his favorites are the Principal in "Forrest Gump,"the lethal attorney Holland Manners in "Angel," Donna's racist father in "La Bamba," Dr. Fonzie in "Friends," the befuddled FBI agent in "Everybody Loves Raymond," as well as his participation in such "event" television projects as "From the Earth to the Moon" as Dr. Tom Paine, head of NASA, and Stephen King's "The Stand" as Whitney. His role as the arrogant cardiologist Dr. Kaysen on "E.R." earned him a SAG Award (Best Ensemble). Recent film credits include "Water For Elephants," with Robert Pattinson, and Reese Witherspoon, and starring roles in the raucous independent film comedy " Frankie Goes Boom," and director Jamie Babbit's dark thriller, "Breaking the Girl."

L.A. theatre credits include "Blackbird" at Rogue Machine, "Madagascar," the sold-out five-month run of "The Bird and Mr. Banks," for which he won Leading Actor Awards from the LA Drama Critics Circle and BackStage West, his Ovation-winning leading turn as the father in the Road's "Napoli Millionaria," and many productions at the Odyssey, including "Road to Nirvana", "Taking Sides, " "Rhinoceros," David Mamet's "Edmond,". At LATC, Sam originated the role of Finney in Marlene Meyer's "Kingfish," and was directed by Simon Callow in Milan Kundera's "Jacques and His Master." Sam greatly enjoyed his participation as a guest artist in the Antaeus Company's Classics Fest production of "Cousin Bette." His directing credits include the world premieres of Stacy Sims' "As White As O" (Ovation-recommended hit currently playing at the Road, Mark Eisman's "SHOVE" at the Road, "Orpheus Descending" and many other Williams works. As a composer Sam wrote a new score to the Odyssey's production of Brecht's "Puntila and His Servant Matti," as well as the original musical "Dolls" at the Canon Theatre. He arranged and played ragtime piano for the film and stage versions of "Bully," starring James Whitmore.

Sam has served on the West Coast Board of Actor's Equity and contract committees for SAG, and currently serves on LA Stage Alliance's Ovation Review Committee. He was the first co-director of Development and a founding member of the Wesley School and is a graduate of the LA Grantsmanship Institute. He has an MA in American Literature and Creative Writing and is a proud member of the Mystery Writers of America. Sam teaches a professional Scene Study workshop and often guest lectures on acting for various schools, including an MFA master class in directing for stage and film at Cal Arts. His own studies include two years at Descanso Garden's Master Class in Horticulture, yoga, Tai Chi and ten years with the legendary director and teacher Jose Quintero.

He is married to psychotherapist Barbara Hancock, and is the proud father of 19 year old twins, both of whom are college theatre students.

The cast of THE WATER'S EDGE will feature: Lauren Birriel, Nicole Farmer, Stephanie Michels, Paris Perrault, Patrick Rieger and Albie Selznick.

THE WATER'S EDGE features an award-winning design team. The Scenic Design is by Desma Murphy. The Costume Design is by Jocelyn Hublau Parker. The Lighting Design is by Kathi Donohue. The Sound Design is by David B. Marling.

SCHEDULE AND PRICING

THE WATER'S EDGE will preview on Tuesday, January 17 at 8pm and Thursday, January 19 at 8pm and will open on Friday, January 20 at 8pm and run through Saturday, March 10 at the Historic Lankershim Arts Center, 5108 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood, CA.

Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm; Sundays at 2pm. Ticket prices are $25; Previews are $15. Special group rates available for parties of 8 or more. For tickets, please call 866-811-4111 for details or visit www.RoadTheatre.org to purchase tickets online or to view complete schedule.

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