West Coast Premiere of WITH MY EYES SHUT Comes to the Hollywood Fringe Festival

From the award winning producer of Fifty Shades of Shrew and Must Be Comfortable With, comes the West Coast Premiere of With My Eyes Shut by Kira Rockwell.

With My Eyes Shut is a love story that explores how we make connections, when typical forms of connection aren't available. Two neuro-divergent young people meet in what appears to be clown college. Learning emotions through facial expressions and working towards the goal -- interaction. Cole and Naomi both have Asperger's Syndrome and relate to the world through their own expertise. Cole a musical savant and Naomi a dance prodigy who feels in color, grow closer as the perils of "performing" and the interjections of the Stage Hand weigh on them.

"Two of my younger brothers identify on the Autism Spectrum. This play began as a question, 'Will my brother find love?'" said playwright Kira Rockwell. "The play then was me drafting up the perfect partner for him."

Through instruments, Simon says, nerf guns, and dance, Cole and Naomi discover their truth and a connection they never thought possible. Director/Producer Tara Donovan says, "At its core, this is a love story. It's two people overcoming the challenges of connecting to find their person. Living in a world with ever increasing difficulties for making real connections, everyone can relate to their struggle and be inspired by their endeavor."

Naomi is played by Fringe and LA stage veteran, Esther Mira. Her recent credits include Clutch Production's empowHER Series, Revolution in a Catsuit, Fifty Shades of Shrew, and Jimmy Kimmel Live. Craig Shields, makes his first return to the Hollywood Fringe since 2010, as Cole. A professional musician, Craig can be seen performing with his band Cuaño or accompanying dance at Cal State Fullerton.

Kira Rockwell is a playwright from Texas, currently based in Boston. Kira's plays have been developed and or produced with Fresh Ink Theater, Boston Playwrights' Theatre, Goat Song Theatre Collective, and Little Black Dress INK. Her work has been featured in the One Minute Play Festival-Boston (2017), the Out of the Loop Fringe Festival (2015, 2016), and Alaska's Last Frontier Theatre Conference (2016). Kira is a proud member of The Dramatist Guild. BFA in Theatre Performance: Baylor University. MFA in Playwriting candidate: Boston University. Find out more at www.kirarockwell.com

With My Eyes Shut marks Tara Donovan's Hollywood Fringe directorial debut. She produced and performed in the Hollywood Fringe with Broads' Word Ensemble since 2014 and serves as the Producing Managing Director at Little Fish Theatre.

All performances at Studio/Stage, 520 N. Western Ave. Hollywood, CA.

Preview: Friday June 1, 7:30pm

Performances:

Saturday June 9, 1:30pm

Thursday June 14, 7:30pm

Sunday June 17, 8pm

Thursday June 21, 6pm

Tickets and additional information available at hff18.org/5315

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