Actors Co-op concludes its 18th Anniversary season with the classic romantic comedy, THE PHILADELPHIA STORY by Philip Barry. THE PHILADELPHIA STORY opens April 23, 2010 and performs through May 30, 2010. Mr. Douglas Clayton, Programs Manager for LA Stage Alliance, is set to direct.
Meet Tracy Lord – beautiful, wealthy and about to be married. Enter an old flame that makes Tracy wonder if her soon-to-be perfect life is really so perfect. Add in a tabloid reporter trying to get the “real†story. Who will make the successful bid for her hand in marriage? THE PHILADELPHIA STORY is the sharp-witted, sophisticated, romantic comedy of remarriage about a socialite whose feelings become “complicated†as she attempts to sort out the loves of her life – just hours before getting married. This production is a continuation of Actors Co-op’s American Classic series.
About the Director
Mr. Douglas Clayton, Programs Manager for LA Stage Alliance, is set to direct THE PHILADELPHIA STORY. Mr. Clayton’s recent Los Angeles directing credits include staged readings with Musical Theatre Guild, East West Players, the Colony, and Antaeus, and productions including the world premiere musical A Piece of Tin (Lyric Theatre), 42nd Street (Azusa Pacific) and The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Sacred Fools). Mr. Clayton received his undergraduate degree in business and theatre from USC and received his Master’s degree at Florida State University/The Asolo Conservatory. His work for LA Stage Alliance (the non-profit organization that assists the performing arts organizations of Greater Los Angeles) includes serving as Associate Producer of the annual Ovation Awards. He was recently co-chair of the Stage Directors and Choreographers (SDC) 50th Anniversary West Coast Gala.
Mr. Clayton is excited to be making his Actors Co-op directorial debut. “I’ve been wanting to direct at Actors Co-op for a while now. The fact that Actors Co-op is a membership company, well, there is huge value in working with a group of actors that have worked together before. A lot of ground is already covered and there is a level of connection that already exists, making everything else that much easier.â€
Taking the audience into account is a crucial part of Clayton’s position as Programs Director for LA Stage Alliance and this informs his work as a director by recognizing the importance of wanting the audience to experience a theatrical journey. “It forces me to always keep the audience in the forefront of my mind. I am responsible for two hours of somebody’s time and money. They need to have an experience of some sort: to laugh, to feel better, to enjoy a nostalgic trip, a cathartic experience.â€
In terms of THE PHILADELPHIA STORY, Clayton wants audiences to be transported to a different world. “An upper class Philadelphia mansion before World War II [is the setting] and I want the audience to feel the joyfulness of that atmosphere and then to have a delightful time getting to know the moderately eccentric people living there. One of the great things about THE PHILADELPHIA STORY is [the audience] can root for different people and it all works out in the end.â€
Creative Team
The creative team for THE PHILADELPHIA STORY includes Set Designer David Mauer, Costume Designer Kimberly Overton, Lighting Designer James L. Moody, Sound Designer Alan Falkner, Prop Designer Lori Berg. Rita Cofield is the Assistant Director and Laura A. Hovermale is the Stage Manager. THE PHILADELPHIA STORY is produced by Rebecca Hayes.
About the Cast
The talented ensemble of THE PHILADELPHIA STORY includes Tara Battani, Gary Clemmer, Susan Carol Davis, Marcos Esteves, Tim Farmer, Alison Freeman, Steve Gustafson, Tannis Hanson, Greg Martin, Brandon Massey, Daniel J. Roberts, James Runcorn and Stephen Van Dorn.
About Actors Co-op
In its 18th season of transforming theatre, Actors Co-op operates two 99-seat Equity-approved theatres on the campus of Hollywood Presbyterian Church. Actors Co-op began on January 8th, 1987, with a dozen actors. Currently, its membership exceeds 40 professionals. Since the Crossley Theatre opened its doors in April of 1989 and its second theatre, the Crossley Terrace Theatre opened February of 1995, Actors Co-op has produced over 60 main stage productions, over 26 second stage productions, staged readings of original works, and has received 125 Drama-Logue Awards, 27 LA Weekly Award nominations (four wins), 25 Theatre LA Ovation Award nominations, five Garland Awards and five Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards. In addition, Actors Co-op was honored with the 1996 Margaret Harford Award for “Sustained Achievement” in smaller theatre from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle as well as the 1996 Charlie Award for “Excellence in the Arts†by the Hollywood Arts Council.
Actors Co-op’s 18th season opened with BIG RIVER directed by Richard Israel, followed by SHERLOCK’S LAST CASE directed by Jeremy Lewit and WIT directed by Marianne Savell.
Schedule
Opening Night for THE PHILADELPHIA STORY is Friday, April 23, 2010 at 8 PM. A reception with the actors and creative team immediately follows the opening night performance. Preview Performance is Thursday, April 22 at 8 PM. Regular performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2:30 PM. Saturday matinees are scheduled for May 1 and May 8 at 2:30 PM.
Pre-show Lecture – MUSE
Actors Co-op presents MUSE, a pre-performance lecture series on spirituality and the arts. The lecture/discussion for THE PHILADELPHIA STORY takes place on Saturday, May 1 at 1:00 PM and will be led by Judith Royer, C.S.J., Ph.D. The event includes a box lunch and admittance to the 2:30 PM matinee performance of THE PHILADELPHIA STORY. Tickets are $30 and include lecture and performance. Lunch is available for an additional $8. Sister Royer is a theatre professor at Loyola Marymount University. She has directed over thirty-five revivals and forty original scripts in the United States and British Isles. She has worked as producer, director, and dramaturg with new play development programs sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, Playwrights Theatre, The Mark Taper Forum and Theatre Gallery in Los Angeles, of which she was founder and former artistic director. She was producing director for the Southern New Plays Festival, sponsored by Southern Repertory Theatre in New Orleans, and has directed new works and/or American premieres at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the Piccolo Spoleto Festival, at New Dramatists, Alice’s Fourth Floor, and the Cherry Lane Theatre in New York, as well as the Victory Theatre, Gascon Center Theatre, and Interact Theatre Company in Los Angeles. She was awarded a Kennedy Center Gold Medallion for her work in fostering new plays and playwrights around the country. She received the ATHE 2008 Outstanding Teacher of Theatre in Higher Education Award July 30, 2008, at the Denver National Conference.
Location
Actors Co-op’s Crossley Terrace Theatre is located at 1760 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, CA 90028, on the campus of Hollywood Presbyterian Church, one block north of Hollywood Boulevard, just off the Gower Street exit of the 101 Hollywood Freeway. Free, well-lit parking is available on Carlos Street (1/2 block east of Gower). Entrance to the theatres is on Carlos.
Ticket Information
Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors (60 and older) and $20 for students. Preview tickets are available for $20. Group rates are available for parties of six or more. For reservations, call (323) 462-8460, ext. 300.
