The Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre Presents 2 ACROSS
By: A.A. Cristi Mar. 21, 2018
The Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre (CVRep) has announced it will present hit TV Writer/Producer Jerry Mayer's delightful two-person play, 2 ACROSS. In keeping with this season's CVRep theme of ROMANCE, REAL OR IMAGINED, 2 ACROSS is Jerry Mayer's smash hit comedy of crosswords and romance that asks the burning question, "Can a crossword puzzle change your life?" Jerry Mayer is a playwright with several decades' worth of television comedy credits. An executive producer for "The Facts of Life," he wrote for "Bewitched," "The Bob Newhart Show," "M*A*S*H*", "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", and "All InThe Family."
Two strangers board a San Francisco BART train at 4:30 a.m. They're alone in the car, each is married, both are doing the New York Times crossword. She's an organized, sensible psychologist. He's a free-spirited, unemployed ad exec. She is a crossword pro, he always quits. When he tosses his puzzle away, she snaps, "Crosswords are a metaphor for life, those who finish, succeed, those who don't, fail." This starts an eighty-minute ride described by critics as "Hilarious," "Witty," "Romantic," "Poignant," and "Wonderfully entertaining."
Says Founding Artistic Director Ron Celona, "I wanted to present 2 Across at CVRep because when I first read this romantic comedy, I thought, 'What a perfect way to end our season theme of ROMANCE, REAL OR IMAGINED, with a warm-hearted story of how opposites attract and how life gives us opportunities if only we would take advantage of them.' Take a chance on an unexpected meeting -- you never know -- it could be the love of your life (or not)."
Directed by veteran Director/Actor Deborah Harmon, who directed the world premiere of 2 Across at the Santa Monica Playhouse, CVRep's 2 Across runs approximately 90 minutes and will be presented without an intermission. The two-character play will feature Andrea Gwynnel and Joel Bryant, who returns to CVRep after appearing last season in Later Life (in multiple roles).
2 Across will enjoy a four-week run from Wednesday, April 25 through Sunday, May 20, 2018 at Coachella Valley Repertory. The theatre is located in The Atrium, 69-930 Highway 111 in Rancho Mirage. Performances are Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30pm, with 2pm matinees on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $48 (Previews), $63 (Opening Night), and $53 for all other performances. For more information, call 760-296-2966 or visit the website at cvrep.org.
THE COACHELLA VALLEY REPERTORY THEATRE is a non-profit, professional regional theatre. It is the only theatre in the Coachella Valley that has Small Professional Theatre (SPT) status with Actor's Equity.
Andrea Gwynnel Andrea is delighted to be working with the wonderful artists at Coachella Valley Rep. She recently played Karen in the world premiere of God And Sex at Santa Monica Playhouse. Past notable productions: A Dolls House and The Cripple of Inishmann at Madison Rep, The Importance of Being Earnest at American Players Theatre, Candida at Pasadena Shakespeare Co., The Bear at Long Beach Playhouse, 3 seasons at Texas Shakespeare Festival and played many classical leading ladies in her 6 years at LA's Independent Shakespeare Co. She was the co-founder/artistic director of Chrysalis Stage for 5 years where she acted, directed and produced great literary plays. Her screenplay, ANGEL SMART? was an Official Selection of 2017 Beverly Hills Film Festival and a semi-finalist in the 2017 Manhattan Shorts Festival. She also teaches acting, dialect coaches for film and TV and is a Yoga teacher. Andrea received her MFA from the Professional Theater Training Program at the University of Delaware
Joel Bryant Joel Bryant is making his third appearance on the CVRep stage after 2 Desert Theatre League-nominated performances in "Frankie & Johnny in the Clair de Lune" and "Later Life." Originally from Albuquerque, he now lives in LA but loves being a part of the CVRep Family. Other favorite stage performances include "Kent" in KING LEAR (Rubicon Theatre), "Marc" in ART (Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities), "Ben Hecht" in MOONLIGHT & MAGNOLIAS (Rubicon Theatre, Broadway World nominee Best Actor) and various roles at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Texas Shakespeare Festival. He has a number of TV, streaming and films credits ("Heartbreak Kid," "Monk," "LA Macabre," [in production], "You Are Nothing" [Winner: Best Actor, First Glance Film Fest]), is a coveted Host who's emceed the Main Stage at the last two Super Bowls, events at CES and live corporate functions and taped travel segments from Singapore to Cancun, Bali to Bakersfield. He's also on the standup stage as well (Improv, Comedy Store) and just returned from 2 weeks entertaining the troops in Afghanistan this winter. He loves to travel but is always happy to return to the desert to play on the CVRep stage!
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