California Stage Theater Presents Sacramento Premiere Of John O'Keefe's Holocaust Remembrance Play

For its' final season offering, California Stage Theater presents the Sacramento premiere of the Holocaust remembrance play, TIMES LIKE THESE. Written by nationally celebrated playwright John O'Keefe, the Sacramento production will be directed by Elly Award-winning actor and director Richard Winters.

The play takes place in Hitler's Berlin between1934 and 1938. O'Keefe has based his story loosely on the true story of Joachim Gottschalk, the German Cary Grant of his day, and Gottschalk's Jewish wife, Meta Wolff. When Wolff is banned from the stage because she is Jewish, she attacks the only way she can: through her actor-husband, whom she directs behind the scenes in a production of Hamlet" designed to boldly satirize the Nazis.

Playwright John O'Keefe has been both an actor and writer for almost 50 years. Daily Variety lauds the play by saying: The play's distinction lies in its truthful examination of fear. O'Keefe's characters don't display typical stereotyped heroism. They bend and break, and by exploring this very human weakness, "Times Like These" gives the horror of Nazism a new and original clarity.

Starring in the play is Lois Ewing, a multiple winner of "Best Actress" in both the Ellie Awards as well as The Drama Logue Awards in Los Angeles. Lois balances a Film/TV career with serious stage work. Her co-star is Gary Alan Wright who has been performing in Northern California Theater for decades and was with the founding company of California Stage nearly 30 years ago.

"Times Like These" will run October 19th through November 18th on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 P.M. and Sundays at 2 P.M. in The California Stage Theater at the R25 Arts Complex, a three-venue center located at 1725 25th Street in Midtown Sacramento. Tickets are $12-$20 and may be purchased online at www.calstage.org or by calling (916) 451-5822. Group sales available upon request.