WINTER by Julie Jensen Extended to 8/20 at Central Works

The Central Works Rolling World Premiere of WINTER by Julie Jensen has extended and must close August 20 (originally scheduled to close August 13). WINTER was described at it's premiere as "thought-provoking with a sense of urgency, and determination ..." and "played brilliantly by Phoebe Moyer, vulnerable and steely-eyEd Strong." WINTER has an "inspired serious focus is on the right to die with dignity."

A searing, compassionate, and often very funny examination of the end of life-and the unconventional path one woman takes to get there.
NOTE JUST ADDED: 8/6-WINTER Playwright Julie Jensen to be featured with Director Gary Graves in dialogue on Sunday August 6 following the 5 PM performance. 8/19- A post-show discussion on Saturday, Aug 19 featuring renowned bioethicist and author Margaret Pabst Battin* along with fellow colleagues, and Guy Micco, MD, Medical Ethicist and Clinical Professor for UCSF Medical School/UC Berkeley School of Public Health Joint Medical Program, and Lonny Shavelson, MD, Director of the non-profit End of Life Options. *Margaret Pabst Battin is the author of "Robeck" in Ending Life: Ethics & the Way We Die, which inspired WINTER.

Nationally acclaimed playwright Julie Jensen has long been interested in this topic and took inspiration from Margaret Pabst Battin's short story "ROBECK." Battin, a renowned bioethicist, has written numerous essays, short stories and books on the ethics of assisted suicide and end-of-life issues. Jensen tells us, "This is a very important subject. I wondered about it when my mother was deep into dementia, and I wonder still as I watch the struggles of others. At what point do we lose dignity or become a burden? And most important of all, how do we know when it's the right time. As Annis [in WINTER] says, 'We must leave before the last possible minute, or else we lose the capacity to make it happen.'"

WINTER is about a woman whose once-brilliant mind is now diminishing. Her decline is troubling not only to herself, but to her family, who each have different ideas about what's right for her. Meanwhile she's ready to take matters into her own hands. WINTER, is inspired by "ROBECK," in ENDING LIFE: ETHICS & THE WAY WE DIE by Margaret Pabst Battin © 2005 Oxford University Press. Directed by Gary Graves, the production features a cast that includes Steve Budd, Julie Kuwabara, John Patrick Moore*, Phoebe Moyer* and Randall Nakano* (*members AEA). Visit us at http://centralworks.org

WINTER is produced at Central Works as part of a NNPN Rolling World Premiere. Other partnering theaters are Salt Lake Acting Company (Utah) and Rivendell Theatre Exchange (Illinois). For more information please visit nnpn.org

WINTER by Julie Jensen July 15-Extended and must close August 20!! NOTE JUST ADDED: Sun. August 6 - Playwright Julie Jensen In Dialogue Following performance Sat. August 19 - Author Margaret Pabst Battin and Renowned Bioethicist Guy Micco, MD (UCSF/UCB) and Lonny Shavelson, MD (EndofLifeOptions.org) following performance. Winter is Inspired by the story "Robeck" in Ending Life: Ethics & the Way We Die by Margaret Pabst Battin A searing, compassionate, and often very funny examination of the end of life At: The Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Avenue, Berkeley. Performances: Thurs, Fri & Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 5 pm Ticket prices: $30 online at centralworks.org, $30-$15 sliding scale at the door. Previews and Thursdays are pay-what-you-can at the door. Tickets: 510.558.1381 or centralworks.org

Since its founding in 1998, NNPN has supported more than 200 productions nationwide through its innovative National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere program, which provides playwright and production support for new works. NNPN's programming allows its members and their affiliated artists to create, grow, and share new work across the country and around the world, and it strives to pioneer, implement, and disseminate ideas and programs that revolutionize the way theaters collaborate to support new plays and playwrights. Its most recent project, The New Play Exchange (newplayexchange.org), is already changing the way playwrights contact share their work and others discover it: nnpn.org

For over 25 years Central Works has filled a special niche for theater artists in the San Francisco Bay Area. Producing more new plays by local playwrights than any other company in the region. "The New Play Theater" utilizes three basic strategies: some are products of the Central Works Method, some are developed in the Central Works Writers Workshop, and some come to the company fully developed as with WINTER by Julie Jensen.

Central Works Method plays bring together writer, actors and director at the very outset of the playwriting process. In a supportive workshop environment, group research and collective brainstorming contribute to the entire development of the script.

The Central Works Writers Workshop is an ongoing commissioning program established in 2012. Twice a year, in 12-week sessions, 8 local playwrights are selected to develop projects through informal readings and carefully directed discussions. For more information, visit our website: www.centralworks.org

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