Rubicon Theatre Company Presents A Special One-Night-Only Free Performance of FULLY COMMITTED

Rubicon Theatre Company presents an evening of nonstop laughs with the comedy FULLY COMMITTED by Becky Mode, a FREE one-night only performance starring JOEY SPONSELLER and directed by the award-winning Richard Israel on Tuesday, August 16 at 7 p.m. This highly energetic, witty and frenetic play follows Sam Peliczowski, an out-of-work actor who mans the red-hot reservation line at Manhattan's premier restaurant. Sam is caught between coercion, threats, bribes and histrionics - with a cast of desperate callers who will stop at nothing in their zeal to land a prime reservation, or the right table. Amid the barrage, Sam's got his own needs to contend with - his recently widowed dad wants him home for the holidays, and he's up for a chance part at Lincoln Center. While juggling scheming socialites, name-dropping wannabes, fickle celebrities and egomaniacal bosses, Sam must learn how to look out for himself. But can he?

Sponseller portrays 40 different characters in this devastatingly funny one-man tour-de-force. A native of Ventura, Sponseller attended Foothill tech before completing his B.A. at Azusa Pacific University. He appeared in Rubicon's productions of Romeo and Juliet, Godspell and Our Town, and has worked at various theatre companies around Ventura County, including Ventura College Opera and Musical Theatre, and Cabrillo Music Theatre. He was a company member at Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre in Colorado for two years and is a member of the Rutgers Theatre Company, where he is currently working on his MFA in Acting. In the fall, he will study Shakespeare at The Globe in London with his colleagues from Rutgers.

"This special showing of Broadway's recent hit is a gift to the community and an opportunity to experience new works by a local rising star artist," says Rubicon Associate Producer BrIan McDonald.

Richard Israel directs this wild, timely play that examines status, our need to belong and the highs and lows of unreal or unrealized expectations. Israel returns to Rubicon having directed and created the Gershwin concert Who Could Ask For Anything More? as part of the Broadway Cabaret Series at Rubicon. He also directed the popular concert reading of The Secret Garden last season. Other recent directing credits include Rent for La McCoy Rigby Entertainment, The Baker's Wife for the Actors Co-Op, the original Jeff Marx/Fat Mike musical Home Street Home, Spring Awakening, Floyd Collins (Ovation Awards for Directing and Outstanding Musical in a Large Venue) and 110 In The Shade (Ovation for Outstanding Musical in an Intimate Venue). Richard has also directed Bronies The Musical for Third Street Theatre, Kiss Me Kate for Cabrillo Music Theatre,Glorious! for ICT, Avenue Q for DOMA Theatre and the multiple-Ovation nominated Having It All for the Laguna Playhouse. Other favorites include critically acclaimed productions The Burnt Part Boys, Falsettos, Gypsy, Assassins, Big, 1776, Big River, Merrily We Roll Along and the West Coast Premiere of Anita Bryant Died For Your Sins. For Musical Theatre Guild, he has directed Road Show, High Fidelity and Violet, among others. He is the recipient of the L.A. Drama Critics Circle Career Achievement Award for Directing.

Rubicon Theatre Company is a not-for-profit professional theatre company founded in 1998. The company presents a diverse mainstage season of comedies, dramas and musicals, including world premieres, in an intimate 185-seat historic former church in Ventura's Downtown Cultural District. Additionally, Rubicon offers year-round education and enrichment programs for the community. Rubicon is committed to creating a nurturing environment for artists, where exploration and experimentation are encouraged and supported. The company has welcomed more than 420,000 Audience members and 45,000 student participants to Rubicon productions. Last year, three Rubicon originated or developed productions played Off-Broadway, all garnering Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations. Rubicon previously won the N.Y. Drama Desk Award for The Best is Yet to Come. Rubicon has also received multiple Ovation Awards and the L.A. Drama Critics Circle Margaret Harford Award for "Sustained Excellence."

For tickets or information, call the Rubicon Theatre Company Box Office at (805) 667-2900, or reserve tickets online atwww.rubicontheatre.org. Rubicon Theatre is located at 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura's Downtown Cultural District. The Box Office is open from Noon to 6:00 p.m. seven days a week.

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