Aurora Adds Performances of 'Best Man' Through 9/28

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company announces extension performances of its critically acclaimed production of Gore Vidal's 'The Best Man'. Aurora Theatre Company Artistic Director Tom Ross helms this seminal political nail-biter starring Tim Kniffin, Charles Shaw Robinson, and Charles Dean, and featuring Elizabeth Benedict, Michael Cassidy, Jackson Davis, Deb Fink, Michael Patrick Gaffney, and Emilie Talbot. 'The Best Man' plays now through September 28, with added performances on September 9, 16, and 23 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets and information ($40-42) the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit www.auroratheatre.org.

Shedding light on some of the issues surrounding today's bid for the White House, 'The Best Man' is a timely morality tale that takes place during a national political convention. Two front runners vie for a political party nomination and one of them will almost certainly be the next President of the United States. Each candidate is in possession of some serious mud to sling and each has to decide just how dirty to play the game. Written with the deep insight of a true political insider (Vidal ran for Congress in 1960, the same year he penned "The Best Man"), this witty, sophisticated play, hailed as "Gore Vidal's best play" by New York Magazine, calls into question public versus private morals and captures the seemingly incompatible virtues of being a good person while being a good politician.

The San Francisco Chronicle hailed 'The Best Man' "spirited and sure-footed . . . catnip for political junkies . . . it sucks the viewer in for its eventful 2 1/2-hour ride," while the Contra Costa Times dubbed the production "a breathtaking revival" and "a glittering theatrical jewel."

Following 'The Best Man', Aurora Theatre Company continues its 17th season in October with 'The Devil's Disciple', George Bernard Shaw's comedy set during the American Revolution, directed by Aurora Theatre Company founding Artistic Director Barbara Oliver, followed by the West Coast Premiere of George Packer's provocative recent Off-Broadway hit 'Betrayed' in January. Mark Jackson, who directed Aurora Theatre Company's acclaimed production of Salome, returns to the Company to helm August Strindberg's 'Miss Julie' in April. Bob Glaudini's unconventional romantic comedy 'Jack Goes Boating', directed by Joy Carlin, rounds out the season in June.

Aurora Theatre Company continues to offer challenging, literate, intelligent stage works to the Bay Area, each year increasing its reputation for top-notch theatre. Located in the heart of the Downtown Berkeley Arts District, Aurora Theatre Company has been called "one of the most important regional theaters in the area" by the San Francisco Chronicle, while The Wall Street Journal has "nothing but praise for the Aurora." The Contra Costa Times stated, "perfection is probably an unattainable ideal in a medium as fluid as live performance, but the Aurora Theatre comes luminously close," while the San Jose Mercury News affirmed "[Aurora Theatre Company] lives up to its reputation as a theater that feeds the mind," and the Oakland Tribune declared "it's all about choices, and if you value good theater, choose the Aurora."

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