West Coast Premiere Of Critically-Acclaimed Play, KEY CHANGE Announced
By: A.A. Cristi Jan. 31, 2018
As a new wave of female empowerment rushes over Hollywood along with the rest of the United States, the West Coast Premiere of Catrina McHugh's all-female play about women in prison couldn't be more appropriately timed. Originally produced and commissioned by Open Clasp Theatre, Key Change was devised with the women incarcerated at England's HMP Low Newton in order to encourage them to create and perform their own work. This raw, revealing, and sometimes humorous play portrays women who are in, out, and back in prison. Award-winning Filmmaker Samantha Lavin is set to direct the American adaptation this Spring under The Collective Studio: LA, Inc. at the Secret Rose Theatre in Los Angeles.
Key Change is the story of real women living their lives behind bars. In it, we see the love, the heartache and the challenge that each of these women face on a daily basis as they participate in the telling of each other's stories. Key Change originally toured in male prisons throughout England before officially premiering at Edinburgh Festival Fringe and then making its US Premiere Off-Broadway. There, it received the highest accolade, the New York Times Critics Pick.
Lavin discovered the show after doing research for her next feature film "7 on 10" which follows a former teacher and basketball player who is incarcerated for killing a woman in an alcoholic blackout. "I was restless waiting to make the film so I wanted to do something for the formerly incarcerated community in the meanwhile," said Lavin, "I stumbled on Key Change, which seemed like fate since it was written by and about women in prison."
Casting is currently underway with auditions being held on February 6th, 7th and 8th. To audition for Key Change please login to Actors Access and visit: http://www.actorsaccess.com/projects/?view=breakdowns&breakdown=579913.
Key Change will open on Friday, April 13th at the Secret Rose Theatre and will run Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights through April 29th, 2018. Friday and Saturday shows will start at 8pm with Sunday shows beginning at 7pm. The Secret Rose Theatre is located at 11246 West Magnolia Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 91601. For tickets please visit: https://tcslakeychange2018.eventbrite.com/?aff=pr
The Collective Studio: LA, Incorporated
The Collective Studio: LA, Inc. (TCSLA) is 501c3 theatre organization. TCSLA originally began as a workshop company serving actors and creative talents. The Studio then expanded its services in Fall of 2011 and began producing theatrical shows. TCSLA's Founder Kelly Shea started producing productions an outlet for creativity and an act of social engagement by partnering with non-profits that are in line with the plays' themes.
About Key Change
In 2014, Open Clasp Theatre Company was commissioned to collaborate with women in prison, to support them to create and perform their own work. The show follows five women in prison whose similarities and histories are poignantly revealed as they participate in the telling of each other's stories, detailing how they landed in the prison system. The show was performed in Frankland, Deerbolt and Durham, to men serving life and on remand to demonstrate the impact of domestic violence against women. Key Change won the "Best of Edinburgh Award" which led them to Off-Broadway in New York. There, they won the highest honor, the "New York Times Critics Pick Award."
Running time: 60 minutes
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