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News Release |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 2008
PCPA THEATERFEST PRESENTS TWO PLAYS Art, which was the winner of the 1998 Tony Award for Best Play, will be performed in the Severson Theatre in Santa Maria from March 13 through April 12. Then, beginning March 28 it begins rotating repertory with Yasmina Reza's Life X 3 which plays through April 20. Art is a dazzling comedy about three men who tackle the questions of friendship, intellectual honesty, and of course, what is or isn't art. Serge (Omar Ricks) has just bought an obscenely expensive modern painting composed of a series of white diagonal lines on a white background. Marc (Peter S. Hadres) can't understand the worth of the painting or the actions of his friend. With mediator Yvan (Richard Gallegos), the three debate their interpretations of art, economics, friendship, the values of society, intimacy and human expectation. Their debate will shake the trio’s 15-year relationship to the core. Guest Director is Erik Stein, Scenic Designer is Frederick P. Deeben, Costume Designer is Laurel Schultz, Lighting Designer is Jake Bray, Sound Designer is Matthew Carpenter and Stage Manager is Aleah Van Woert. For Mr. Stein, Art is a timely work that "focuses on the deconstruction of a friendship." He suggests the Yasmina Reza's play asks a series of important questions: "Should a friendship be comfortable or should it challenge? Should a friendship be a haven or should it evoke, provoke, and inspire? Should a friendship rely on what is known or should it break the rules?" And most important, "is any unexamined friendship worth having?" Life X 3 explores the ramifications of dinner guests arriving on the wrong night; the two couples act out three different versions of the same disastrous dinner party. Henry (Andrew Philpot), a research astrophysicist and his wife Sonia (Elizabeth Stuart), a lawyer are the unwitting and unwilling hosts for Hubert (Corey Jones), a more successful colleagues of Henry's and his aggrieved wife, Inez (Polly Firestone-Walker), who mistakenly arrive a night early for dinner. It’s the minute distinctions in mood, tone, action that can alter events and outcomes in this contemporary version of classic farce. Director is Valerie Rachelle, Scenic Designer is Frederick P. Deeben, Costume Designer is Reiko Ishikawa, Lighting Designer is Dan Schreckengost, Sound Designer is Matthew Carpenter and Stage Manager is Christine Collins. For Ms. Rachell, Life X 3 reveals “the absurdities of social life and the small self-deceptions that help us all survive.” Through Reza’s triple replay of the evening, she enables us to see “ourselves on any give night in domesticity.” The production elements of setting, lights, sound, and costume combine to reveal “what is underneath theses masks of social graces” which we all recognize and wear. For tickets and more information call 805-922-8313 (Wed-Sun 1-7pm) or purchase online anytime at www.pcpa.org. For groups of 12 or more call 1-800-PCPA-123. For the best seats and savings of up to 40%, become a subscriber! Subscribers receive exclusive privileges including ticket exchange, first access to single tickets, an invitation to the Annual Open House, after-play receptions, and unlimited single tickets at the subscriber rate. Subscribers can choose from a 4-5 play series, a 6-7 play series or an 8 play series. For the ultimate flexibility choose a PCPA Passport, good for six admissions during the season at a special discounted rate. The box office is open Wednesday from noon to 7 p.m. and Thursday through Sunday from 1 to 7 p.m. New this season! All evening performances now begin at 7 p.m. Evening performances for Art and Life X 3 are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Matinees are at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Check the online calendars for specific performance dates at www.pcpa.org. The 2007-2008 Season continues with Godspell coming to the Marian Theatre April 10. The Summer Season includes Godspell playing in Solvang, followed by performances in both Santa Maria and Solvang of: the World Premiere of The Heart's Desire, Ragtime, The Imaginary Invalid, and Hot Mikado. Now in its 44th season, PCPA Theaterfest, the Central Coast’s Resident Professional Theatre Company and Conservatory, has infused the national theatre scene with thousands of trained actors and theatrical technicians over the years.
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