Contra Costa Civic Theatre Continues Season with the World Premiere of THE LOST YEARS

Mistaken identities, family secrets, artistic ambitions, and terrible puns set the stage for Contra Costa Civic Theatre's world premiere production of The Lost Years by Los Angeles-based playwright Cynthia Wands, from April 7-30. The production, directed by CCCT Artistic Director Marilyn Langbehn, marks only the second world premiere in the company's 57-year history. For tickets and information visit the theatre's website at www.ccct.org or call 510.524.9012.

In 1599, near Lancashire, England, the Thomas household is abuzz with elaborate wedding preparations for their only daughter, Isabelle. When a guest of the groom's family becomes ill at the festivities and the renowned actor Richard Burbage shows up to provide the celebration's entertainment, things quickly and hilariously spin out of control.

"This play started from my interest in women's "backstage lives" during Shakespeare's time," says playwright Cynthia Wands. "It's a wonderful resonance that during this turbulent political season, we're seeing more of women's rights and lives being championed. Second chances, transformation, character re-awakening: all of these were great subjects for Shakespeare's time, and for our time right now."

"Cynthia and I have known each other for longer than either of us cares to remember, and I'm thrilled that we finally have the opportunity to work together again," adds Artistic Director Marilyn Langbehn. "I love that she's taken some of the familiar tropes of Shakespeare's work and suffused them with her own distinct perspective, one that's filled with a heady humor, a dash of slapstick, and a heartfelt longing for a more complete life. I'm proud that CCCT has chosen to include the work of this gifted playwright as only the second world premiere in the company's history, the first being the work of the company's co-founder, Louis Flynn, in the theatre's first season in 1960."

CCCT's production of The Lost Years features Shannon Warrick (TBA nominee for August: Osage County) as Nona; Ben Knoll (seen earlier this season in Well) as Humphrey Bludgepot; Mikkel Simons (Sr. James in CCCT's Doubt) as the bride, Isabelle; Mark Albi (Anna in the Tropics, Ross Valley Players) as Richard Burbage; Sandi Weldon (most recently seen as the Grand Duchess Olga Katrina in CCCT's You Can't Take it With You) as Lady Catherine Thomas; and Stephanie Goodman (I Hate Hamlet at Pacifica Spindrift Players) as the maid, Helena.

The design team includes TBA award-winning scenic designer Kuo-Hao Lo, costume designer Lisa Danz, lighting designer Courtney Johnson, sound designer Michael Kelly, and props designer Devon LaBelle.

Cynthia Wands (Playwright) "I am looking to create language-based plays which explore the mystic and historic elements of our consciousness. I worked for many years as a stage actress in San Francisco, Boston, and Los Angeles, and had the opportunity to work with some extraordinary theatre artists. My work included plays produced at the Magic Theatre, San Francisco Rep, Celebration Theatre, and the Berkeley Shakespeare Festival. My exposure to the plays and playwrights gave me an appreciation for magical realism, and my writing explores the connection between the natural and unknown. I have studied playwright structure with Dakota Powell at UCLA, Murray Mednick at the Padua Playwrights Workshop, Leon Martell at UCLA, and with Jack Grapes in his Method Writing classes. I am currently a member of WORDS THAT SPEAK, a playwrights group in Los Angeles, California. I have developed scripts at the Ohio State University retreat for playwrights with the ICWP (International Center for Women's Playwrights). The Dramatist Guild has hosted a reading of my script "The Lost Years" in November 2007 for Footlight Series in Los Angeles. The Botanicum Seedlings project has also read my scripts at the Theatricum Botanicum Green Reads series. I am a member of The Dramatist Guild, ALAP (Alliance for Los Angeles Playwrights), LAFPI (Los Angeles Female Playwrights Initiative) and ICWP (International Centre for Women Playwrights). My theatre works include Day of The Dead, Best Fest Forward, The Lost Years, Emily, and The American Woman."

Director Marilyn Langbehn is in her fourth season as Artistic Director at CCCT, where she has directed You Can't Take It With You, The Mountaintop, The Sound of Music, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)(revised), and August: Osage County, which received "Best Production" and "Best Director" nods at the inaugural Theatre Bay Area (TBA) awards in 2014. Since moving to the Bay Area in 2004, she has directed numerous productions including the West Coast premiere of David Mamet's Race ("Best Director", The Inlander), Rabbit Hole ("Top Ten Bay Area Productions of the Year", Theater Dogs); Driving Miss Daisy ("Top Ten Bay Area Productions of the Year", Contra Costa Times); Superior Donuts (San Francisco premiere); Frost/Nixon (Bay Area premiere); Looking for Normal (Bay Area premiere); Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?; She Loves Me; The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee; Cotton Patch Gospel; Jesus Christ Superstar; Kiss Me, Kate; The Woman in Black; and Shadowlands.

Single tickets for The Lost Years are $22 for adults in advance, or $28 at the door; youth tickets for ages 16 and under are $11 in advance, or $15 at the door. Discounts available for groups of 15 or more. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm, with post-show talkbacks scheduled following the matinees on April 9 and 23. All performances take place at CCCT's intimate and fully accessible theatre in the Flynn building located at 951 Pomona Avenue (cross street Moeser) in El Cerrito. Free parking is available in the adjoining lot. Tickets may be purchased online at www.ccct.org or by phone at 510.524.9012.

ABOUT CONTRA COSTA CIVIC THEATRE

Contra Costa Civic Theatre, established in 1959 by Louis and Bettianne Flynn and a group of dedicated volunteers and now under the artistic direction of Marilyn Langbehn, is a non-profit community theatre with its permanent home in El Cerrito, CA. Our mission is to provide affordable, high-quality entertainment to residents throughout the East Bay and provide training in performing arts for children and adults. We are proud to be an independent, self-sufficient organization presenting five Main Stage and thirteen youth productions annually in our intimate two hundred-seat theatre.

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