Dragon Theatre to Present WILD BOY, 7/29-8/21

Based on the critically acclaimed memoir Not Even Wrong, Wild Boy tells two stories - that of Paul and Jennifer Collins, who learn that their toddler, Morgan, may be autistic, and that of Peter "the Wild Boy," an 18th century boy found mute and feral in the woods by King George I. Written by Oliver Goldstick, Wild Boy looks at what it really means to be human.

Director Ken Sonkin says that "during the Age of Enlightenment, Peter was scrutinized and poked and prodded so that the great thinkers of his time might pass judgment on him in order to better understand their own existence. He was a simple man who required very little out of life, but circumstance was such that he was held up to the collective mirror of society and it was concluded: he must not possess a soul because he couldn't speak. I am always attracted to stories that deal with the question: "What is normal?" I love how this piece explores relationships in all their human complexity-and that it offers no easy answers. This is not a play about understanding, but rather acceptance. Understanding is an intellectual exercise and because we can never truly "understand" one another, we often default to judgment. But to be compassionate with those who are different than us, to connect with them on their terms (language isn't necessary), and to be open to what they can teach us-these are the lessons this story reckons with and asks us to consider."

Originally from Detroit, Oliver Goldstick received a degree from the University of Michigan, followed by graduate work at Columbia University where his plays were produced off-Broadway including Dinah Was (2000). In 2009 his play Wild Boy (adapted from Not Even Wrong: A Father's Journey Into the Lost History of Autism by Paul Collins), had its premiere in Los Angeles at the Pacific Resident Theatre. His plays have earned him Dramalogue and Hopwood awards as well as nominations from the NAACP Theatre and L. A. Ovation Awards.

Most notably, Goldstick is credited as executive producer and writer for a number of television series including Desperate Housewives, Lipstick Jungle, Ugly Betty, Everwood, State of Mind, Partners, Coach, and Caroline in the City. He is the executive producer and writer for the Emmy award-winning ABC series Pretty Little Liars.

In association with BBC Worldwide, he is currently filming The Collection, Amazon's first original UK drama series which are 8 hour-long episodes. The show tells the story of an illustrious Paris fashion house (think: Dior) just after World War II.

Paul Collins is a writer specializing in history, memoir, and unusual antiquarian literature. His seven books have been translated into eleven languages, and include Not Even Wrong: A Father's Journey Into the Lost History of Autism (2004), and The Murder of the Century: The Gilded Age Crime That Scandalized a City & Sparked the Tabloid Wars (2011). He is a 2009 recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship in Nonfiction. His recent freelance work includes pieces for the New York Times, Slate, and New Scientist.

In addition to appearing regularly on NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday as its resident "literary detective" on odd and forgotten old books, he is also the founding editor of the Collins Library imprint of McSweeney's Books, where he has revived such disparate works as a World War I internment camp memoir and an absurdist 1934 detective tale.

Collins lives in Portland, Oregon, where he teaches creative nonfiction as an associate professor in the MFA program at Portland State University. He is currently the chair of the English Department.

Featuring: Ryan O'Donnell as Paul Collins, Olivia Hass as Jennifer Collins, Johnathan Tierney as Morgan/Peter, John Stephen King as King George (et al), Bryan Moriarty as Chad (et al), Isabel Siragusa as Caroline (et al), and Mary Lou Torre at Dr. Rapp (et al).

Designers & Production Team: Brandon Ah Tye (Dresser), Ashley Taylor Frampton (Production Manager), Josiah Frampton (Box Office Manager), Meredith Hagedorn (Executive Artistic Director), Kimberly Mohne Hill (Dialect Coach), Emily James (Properties Designer), Brooke Jennings (Costume Designer), Joshua McDermott (Scenic Designer/Lighting Designer), Ken Sonkin (Director/Sound Designer), Linda Olbourne (Company Manager), Sigrid Pinsky (Assistant Stage Manager), Jesse Ploog (Stage Manager), Daniela Talavera Rangel (Dresser), Kitty Tores (Assistant Costume Designer), Kimberly Wadycki (Managing Director and Press Inquiries), Maggie Ziomek (Graphic Designer)

WHEN: July 29 - August 21, 2016

Thursdays - Saturdays, 8pm, Sundays, 2pm. Doors open 30 minutes before the show.

Pay What You Will Preview, Thursday, July 28 at 8pm

Opening Night Friday, July 29 at 8p with a post-show reception

Post-show discussion with the cast and director Sunday, August 7th & August 14th

WHERE: The Dragon Theatre in downtown Redwood City?

2120 Broadway Street at the intersection of Broadway and Theatre Way

HOW MUCH:

$30 for general admission seats. $25 for student/senior tickets.

$15 rush tickets on Thursdays and Fridays starting 2nd week. Limited availability and cash only at the door.

Pay what you will preview on Thursday, July 28- no reservation necessary, just walk up and pay cash at the door. Doors open at 7:30p; show starts at 8p.

$175 for the VIP box (seats 4 people and includes champagne and chocolates.)

CONTACTING THE BOX OFFICE: Leave a voicemail at 650-493-2006 x 2 and your call will be returned within 2 business days. If you'd rather email, contact Josiah at tickets@dragonproductions.net. The Dragon Box Office is not staffed 7 days a week so there might be a delay in response. Buying tickets online at http://www.dragonproductions.net is the very best way to reserve a ticket in advance, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

TIX & MORE INFO: http://dragonproductions.net/

To post a comment, you must register and login.