EMH Productions Presents the Sacramento Premiere of SEX WITH STRANGERS

Award winning EMH Productions begins its sixth season of provocative and compelling theatre with the titillating Sex with Strangers by acclaimed writer Laura Eason. A two-character modern day drama, this play made its debut at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago and was directed by David Schwimmer (of the hit TV series Friends) when it debuted at Second Stage Theatre in New York. Since then, it made its West Coast debut last summer at the Geffen Playhouse to sold out houses, and has been one of the top 10 most produced plays of 2015/2016. This timely play delves into the world of social media, treatment of women as sex objects, the dynamics of a relationship between a younger man and an older woman, along with testing our understanding of whether a public persona is who a person truly is behind closed doors. Sex with Strangers will run from February 2nd through February 18th, 2017 at The Geery Theatre, 2130 L St, Sacramento, CA 95816

What could be more romantic than an unexpected visitor at a bed and breakfast who sweeps you off your feet? And he turns out to be star sex blogger and memoirist Ethan Strange who tracked you down because you're his idol. Younger man, very sure of himself, and totally into you. Who says no to that? But what if there's more to it than that? What if there's so much more than you bargained for? Especially when you both crave what the other posses, both personally and professionally. How far will you go to get what you want? Will you be the same person if you finally do? Meet Ethan and Olivia as they take you on a intensely sexy ride through the trials of ambition, being a woman and being an internet celebrity as they each inch closer to getting what they want, confronting the dark side of ambition and the near impossibility of reinventing oneself when the past is only an internet click away.

This will be the sixth year for EMH Productions to bring thought provoking, intimate and unique theatre to the Sacramento Stage. EMH Productions supports the art of acting, directing, producing and writing through live theatre productions, film, TV and casting. The goal is to provide an arena that artists in this industry can network, grow their craft and find support to achieve their dreams. In every production the executive creative director, Elise Hodge, looks to bring in a new director, actor or writer to showcase their talents, to be a stepping stone in a career path as an artist in this community. She selects material based on its social impact, its essential message that she believes will either move people, test their beliefs, or simply make them laugh. Stories have always been her passion, as she believes through story telling do we truly find ways to reach out to one another, to touch each other on a human level.

She participates in every production as the producer, set designer and builder, and then additionally as an actor or director. She has produced over 15 shows in the Sacramento area alone, her roots coming from The 68 Crew based in Los Angeles, CA. EMH also strongly believes in giving back to the community and often supports a local charity with her productions. Previous productions include Doubt (2016), Goodbye Freddy (2016), Look Back in Anger (2016), the debut of an original work These Lonesome Roads (2016), An Almost Perfect Person (2015), her own original work Fragile Things (2015) and After Hours ((2013), Down the Road (2013), Moving Mountains (2013), Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead (2013), Liar (2012) and My Fellow Creatures (2012). For a complete list of all charities and previous shows, visit the EMH website at www.emhpros.weebly.com.

Laura Eason, a graduate of the Performance Studies Department at Northwestern, is a screenwriter, playwright (over 20 originals and adaptations) and a musical book writer. She has received Chicago's Jeff Award for New Work and Adaptation while in New York, she is a member of Rising Phoenix Rep, an Affiliated Artist of New Georges and an alumna of the Women's Project Playwright's Lab. She is an active ensemble member and former Artistic Director of Lookingglass Theatre Company in Chicago as well as the recipient of the 2011 Regional Theatre Tony Award. She is a Producer now in her fourth season on the Emmy award-winning Netflix show House of Cards. Sex with Strangers received more than 20 productions in the US and internationally in the '15/'16 season including Geffen Playhouse in LA, City Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse and productions in Australia and Buenos Aires among many others. She recently completed a feature for Sarah Jessica Parker's company, Pretty Matches, and wrote a pilot for 20th/FBC executive produced by Danny Strong. Her new musical, Days Like Today, with music and lyrics by Alan Schmuckler, was produced in a critically acclaimed, sold out run at Writers' Theatre in her hometown of Chicago. She currently resides in New York.

Sex with Strangers will pair off Tory Scroggins, local favorite from Celebration Arts, and Elise Hodge, creative executive director of EMH Productions. Tory currently seeks out his theatre arts degree at Sacramento City College and has most notably been seen in Higgins in Harlem, Stick Fly, and My Children! My Africa all produced by Celebration Arts. Other credits include Rent, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Scapino, Jitney and In the Red and Brown Water. Elise Hodge has most recently been seen in Doubt, Goodbye Freddy and An Almost Perfect Person.

Performances for Sex with Strangers will begin on Thursday, February 2nd at 8pm and continue through Saturday, February 18, 2016. Showtimes will be Thursdays/Fridays/Saturdays at 8pm. There will be one matinee performance on Sunday, February 12th at 2pm. There will be one special performance on Monday February 13th at 7:30pm. Performances are at The Geery Theatre, 2130 L St, Sacramento, CA 95816

General ticket prices are $20. Tickets can be reserved for $20 at www.emhpros.weebly.com, or purchased at the door (cash only). The website features our special $15 Friday Nights as well.

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