Aurora Extends West Coast Premiere of THE HOW AND THE WHY

Due to popular pre-sale demand, Aurora Theatre Company announces that it will again extend the West Coast Premiere of Sarah Treem's (Netflix's House of Cards, HBO's In Treatment, Showtime's The Affair) thought-provoking THE HOW AND THE WHY, the third fully staged production to be performed in the company's second stage performance space, Harry's UpStage. Acclaimed Bay Area actress and director Joy Carlin (Talley's Folly, After the Revolution, Body Awareness, Jack Goes Boating, Awake and Sing!) helms this intimate and keenly perceptive play. The company will add an additional two weeks of performances to the previously extended run dates. Originally extended through May 8, THE HOW AND THE WHY now plays through May 22nd (added performances: Tuesday, May 10, 7pm; Wednesday, May 11, 8pm; Thursday, May 12, 8pm; Friday, May 13, 8pm; Saturday, May 14, 8pm; Sunday, May 15, 2pm; Tuesday, May 17, 7pm; Wednesday, May 18, 8pm; Thursday, May 19, 8pm; Friday, May 20, 8pm; Saturday, May 21, 8pm; Sunday, May 22, 2pm) at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($35-45) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

Evolution and emotion collide in THE HOW AND THE WHY. More than science is at stake when two women of different generations clash over what it means to be female. On the eve of a prestigious conference, an up-and-coming evolutionary biologist wrestles for the truth with an established leader in the field. As the two women thrash out their views, they struggle to find the middle ground between research and relationships. Dubbed "a smart, densely textured work about men and women, love and conflict, genes and destiny" by The New York Times when it premiered at the McCarter Theatre in 2011, THE HOW AND THE WHY explores evolution and emotion, and the difficult choices faced by women of every generation.

This production will be presented in Aurora Theatre Company's second stage performance space, Harry's UpStage, located in the Nell and Jules Dashow Wing. THE HOW AND THE WHY is the third Harry's UpStage production in a row to extend during ticket pre-sale since the space opened in April 2014.

Veteran Bay Area actress and director Joy Carlin helms THE HOW AND THE WHY. Carlin attended the Yale School of Drama and is an original member of Chicago's Playwrights' Theatre; she has been a leading actress, director, and teacher in the Bay Area since 1969. Carlin served as the Associate Artistic Director of the American Conservatory Theater from 1987-1992, was an actor and resident director at Berkeley Repertory Theatre from 1981-1984, and served as its Interim Artistic Director from 1983-1984. For Aurora Theatre Company, Carlin most recently directed Lanford Wilson's Talley's Folly, After the Revolution and Annie Baker's Body Awareness, as well as productions of Clifford Odet's Awake and Sing!, Bob Glaudini's Off Broadway hit Jack Goes Boating, Terry Johnson's Hysteria, John Guare's Bosoms and Neglect, Arthur Miller's The Price, Conor McPherson's Dublin Carol, David Mamet's The Old Neighborhood, and Michael Frayn's Benefactors. In addition to starring in Aurora Theatre Company's productions of Our Practical Heaven, Thérèse Raquin, and The Belle of Amherst, she has appeared in multiple stage roles at American Conservatory Theater, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, San Francisco Playhouse, Marin Theatre Company, and San Jose Repertory Theatre, among others. Carlin is the recipient of numerous Bay Area Critics Circle Awards and Dramalogue Awards for both acting and directing.

Sarah Treem is the Golden Globe Winning writer and producer of Showtime's The Affair. In addition to THE HOW AND THE WHY, her full-length plays include Empty Sky, Against the Wall, Mirror, Mirror, A Feminine Ending, Human Voices, When We Were Young and Unafraid, and Vienna's Amazing. Sarah has been in residence at The Sundance Institute and The Ojai Playwriting Conference, and has been commissioned by South Coast Repertory and Playwrights Horizons. Treem is a Writer/Producer on two acclaimed HBO series, In Treatment and Mark Wahlberg's How To Make It In America. She also writes for House of Cards for Netflix. Additionally, Treem is adapting Tom Wolfe's novel I Am Charlotte Simmons for HBO. She graduated from Yale University and the Yale School of Drama.

Located in the Dashow Wing at Aurora Theatre Company, Harry's UpStage is the company's second stage performance space. Longtime Aurora subscriber and supporter Harry Weininger passed away in May 2010; his family, who knew of his dedication to Aurora, wanted to honor him and made a generous donation to Aurora to outfit the Dashow with a new lighting package, curtains, a stage, and furniture. Harry's UpStage is used for live cabaret and second stage events at Aurora.

Following Aurora's West Coast Premiere of Sarah Treem's THE HOW AND THE WHY, 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," Stark Insider said "The Aurora excels at smart theatre that takes you out of your world without wasting your time," and the Oakland Tribune stated "it's all about choices, and if you value good theater, choose the Aurora."

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