Stone's Throw Productions Presents GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES, Now thru July 12

Stone's Throw Productions presents the Vancouver Premiere of Pulitzer Prize Finalist Rajiv Joseph's dark romantic saga Gruesome Playground Injuries. Directed by award winning director Chelsea Haberlin. Gruesome Playground Injuries follows the decades-spanning relationship of an accident-prone daredevil and a corrosive masochist who navigate friendship, love, and the wounds created in between. Gruesome Playgrond Injuries plays today, July 3 - 12 (Preview July 2) Wednesday - Saturday at 8pm at Pacific Theatre, 1440 W 12th Ave. For tickets ($15) call 604-731-5518 or visit pacifictheatre.org.

Vancouver, BC - You've never seen a love story quite like this. Gruesome Playground Injuries follows the decades-spanning relationship of an accident-prone daredevil and a corrosive masochist who navigate friendship, love, and the wounds created in between. Doug and Kayleen first meet in the nurse's office at the age of eight: Doug rode his bike off the roof and Kayleen can't stop throwing up. Over the course of the next 30 years, their lives continue to intersect at the most bizarre intervals and places, leading the two childhood friends to compare scars and the physical calamities that keep drawing them together.

Rajiv Joseph is an up and coming playwright who is gaining considerable attention. His play Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo was a 2010 Pulitzer Finalist and recently played on Broadway featuring Robin Williams. He also co-wrote the screenplay for the recent film Draft Day starring Clint Eastwood that was released this past April. Chelsea Haberlin is a perfect fit to direct Joseph's dark comedy after receiving a Jessie nomination for last year's Mojo, winning the Ray Michal directing award, and having recently finished a wildly successful run of Tracy Letts' black comedy Killer Joe.

"I am thrilled to be tackling this beautiful, challenging and provocative play with these two exceptional young actors," says Haberlin, "The duality of love and brutality in this script is heartbreaking and it is a privilege to be directing the Vancouver premiere. Bring your Kleenex and a helmet."

Pippa Johnstone and Kenton Klassen are UBC BFA Acting grads who appeared opposite each other as Wallis and Edward in last years hit production of The Duchess: a.k.a. Wallis Simpson directed by Sarah Rodgers. They are both Company Apprentices at Pacific Theatre this season and are producing and performing in Gruesome Playground Injuries as their final apprenticeship project.

Gruesome Playground Injuries is Directed by Chelsea Haberlin and features Kenton Klassen and Pippa Johnstone. Costume Design is by Christopher David Gauthier. Set Design is by Carolyn Rapanos. Sound Design is by Chris Adams. Lighting Design is by Phil Miguel. Stage Management is by Shelby Bushell. Assistant Stage Management is by Charlie Mitchell.

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