B STREET THEATRE; Special Engagement World Premiere of CHESSMAN

B Street Theatre, Sacramento's Resident New Works Theatre, is thrilled to present the World Premiere of Chessman. The production runs October 13 - 22, 2016.

A family drama and legal thriller based on the true story of Caryl Chessman.

Caryl Chessman, known as the "Red Light Bandit" when he was arrested and convicted in 1948, fought for the 12 years to avoid the gas chamber at San Quentin and by 1960 was running out of options. Chessman is told through the eyes of Governor Pat Brown, who must balance his personal beliefs and his public duty as he decides whether to spare the life of the most famous Death Row prisoner in the world.

Chessman is based largely on historical documents, including Chessman's papers at the California State Library and the recollections of the Brown family, archived at the Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley.

"The governor's mansion was the eye of the Chessman hurricane in 1960," said playwright Joseph Rodota. "It is exciting to tell this story again in California's state capitol."

B Street Theatre's production of Chessman is made possible by Presenting Sponsor:

Townsend Raimundo Besler & Usher

And Sponsors:

Cecilia Delury and Vince Jacobs, Marcy Friedman, Marjorie and Mark Friedman, Cassie Gilson and Loren Kaye, Donna Kaylor, Donna and Greg Lucas, Jackie Pfannenstiel and Dan Richard, Karen Skelton and Jeffrey Barbour, Bill Slaton and Kent Newton.

Playwright: Joseph Rodota - Joseph Rodota is a writer and consultant who divides his time between Sacramento, California and Washington, DC. He is the author of THE WATERGATE, a history of the iconic (and some say infamous) building and its most famous residents, which will be published in 2018 by William Morrow. Additional information can be found at www.ChessmanPlay and www.JosephRodota.com.

More about B Street Theatre: B Street Theatre is a non-profit, professional theatre company producing primarily new work for adults, families and children. The two-
theatre playhouse on B Street in Midtown Sacramento is home to the Mainstage Series, B3 Series and Family Series, each created to feature intimate, quality theatre for audiences year-round. Recognized as one of the nation's top professional theatres, B Street Theatre has produced more than 160 world premieres written by B Street playwrights and numerous productions which were world, national, West Coast or regional premieres.

B Street Theatre was originally founded in 1986 with the purpose of bringing the excitement of live performance to children through the B Street Theatre School Tour. This educational outreach program still serves over 200,000 students in Northern California annually.

B Street Theatre programs include the Mainstage Series, B Street Theatre Family Series and Family Series Student Matinees (for school field trips), the B3 Series, B Street School Tours, Sketch Comedy, B Street Acting Conservatory and Studio for Young People, and the B Street Theatre Internship program for pre-professional/post-
college training.

In 2014, B Street brought its most popular play ever, "Around the World in 80 Days", to India. The original cast performed in three Indian cities, furthering the organization's mission by bringing high quality theatre to an international audience, while also raising money for Indian educational enrichment and schools and partnering with an overseas performing arts center with the hope of future international collaboration.

B Street Theatre has produced over 250 professional productions since 1986. 2016 marks the B Street Theatre's 30th Anniversary.

More information at www.bstreettheatre.org.

The mission of B Street Theatre is to promote education and literacy, social interaction, and cultural enrichment by engaging children and adults in the highest quality theatre arts and playwriting.

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