Aurora Extends Amy Freed's THE MONSTER-BUILDER Through 12/20

Critics and audiences agree -THE MONSTER-BUILDER is smashing! Due to popular demand, Aurora Theatre Company announces a second extension of the Bay Area Premiere of Pulitzer Prize finalist (Freedomland) Amy Freed's THE MONSTER-BUILDER for an additional 6 performances. Art Manke makes his Aurora directing debut with this viciously funny comedy featuring Danny Scheie (The Mystery of Irma Vep), Rod Gnapp (The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity), Nancy Carlin (Hysteria), Thomas Gorrebeeck (The Eccentricities of a Nightingale), Maggie Mason (Magic Theatre, San Francisco Playhouse), and Sierra Jolene. Originally extended through December 13, THE MONSTER-BUILDER now plays through December 20th (added performances: Tuesday, December 15, 7pm; Wednesday, December 16, 8pm; Thursday, December 17, 8pm; Friday, December 18, 8pm; Saturday, December 19, 8pm; Sunday, December 20, 2pm) at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($32-52) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

In THE MONSTER-BUILDER, a maniacal scheme of fantastical proportions lurks deep inside world-renowned mega-architect Gregor Zubrowski's post-modern steel and glass structures. His commanding celebrity and curious creative process both titillates and manipulates design professionals and patrons alike into submission. It is only after he casually, and cruelly, steals a career-making project that two fledgling architects dare to challenge this monster-builder at his own game. According to The Oregonian, "[Playwright] Amy Freed certainly knows how to write a wonderfully wild and witty play... [The Monster-Builder is] a penetrating thesis drama, a gothic melodrama, and a salient satire of artistic and intellectual elites all rolled into one." An examination of the cult of personality, the vacuousness of ambition, and the uncomfortable marriage of form and function in high art, THE MONSTER-BUILDER received its World Premiere under the direction of Art Manke at Portland's Artists Repertory Theatre in 2014.

Robert Hurwitt of the San Francisco Chronicle called THE MONSTER-BUILDER a "sure-handed comic execution laced with heady content, in a manner that engages the brain as much as it tickles the funny bone," noting, "equal parts sharp satire, broad farce, comedy noir... the Bay Area premiere unfolds with smooth hilarity under the direction of Art Manke." Karen D'Souza at the San Jose Mercury News/Bay Area News Group declared THE MONSTER-BUILDER a "devilish comedy," commenting, "from scathing satire of artistic pretension to campy horror...['The Monster-Builder' is] a snarky and intellectual nail biter." Georgia Rowe at the San Francisco Examiner said of the production " 'The Monster-Builder' is a laugh riot, but it's also a rare theatrical creation - a rollicking satire with something to say," while Leo Stutzin at the Huffington Post affirmed, "One thing can be said with certainty about Aurora Theatre's production of Amy Freed's 'The Monster-Builder': It's hilarious." Ilana Walder-Biesanz at Stark Insider gave THE MONSTER-BUILDER "4 out of 5 stars," stating, " 'The Monster-Builder' is the funniest play-new or old-I've seen in years."

Chad Jones at Theater Dogs dubbed the production, "a whole lot of fun...Part farce, part examination of the world we make for ourselves, 'The Monster Builder' erects a lovely, lively structure around a dark heart that beats with the sounds of delight in every crack of humanity's foundation." Adam Brinklow at Edge SF found THE MONSTER-BUILDER to be, "damn funny and more than a little cathartic," while Emily Mendel at Berkeleyside deemed the play, "captivating...On the surface, it's an amusement, but clearly [playwright Amy Freed] is also trying to express significant ideas."

Following THE MONSTER-BUILDER, Award-winning Bay Area auteur Mark Jackson returns to Aurora with the World Premiere of his play LITTLE ERIK in January, followed by the West Coast Premiere of Sarah Treem's THE HOW AND THE WHY, directed by Joy Carlin and staged in the company's second stage performance space, Harry's UpStage, located in the Nell and Jules Dashow Wing. The season continues in April with the West Coast Premiere of David Ives' THE HEIR APPARENT directed by Josh Costello. Timothy Near makes her Aurora directing debut with the company's season closer in June, Athol Fugard's modern classic "MASTER HAROLD"... and the boys.

Voted Best Theater Company in 2012 by SF Weekly, Aurora Theatre Company continues to offer challenging, literate, intelligent stage works to the Bay Area, each year increasing its reputation for top-notch theater. Located in the heart of the Downtown Berkeley Arts District, Aurora Theatre Company, declared "one of the best regional theaters around" by 7x7 magazine, has been called "one of the most important regional theaters in the area" and "a must-see midsize company" 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 is "arguably the finest small theater in the Bay Area," and the Oakland Tribune stated "it's all about choices, and if you value good theater, choose the Aurora."

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