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The Relevant Stage – San Pedro’s newest theatre company in residence at Warner Grand Theatre will be presenting select musical numbers from its two Summer-of-2008 musicals and readings from three powerful plays.
From the multiple Tony award-winning show Urinetown the Musical by Mark Hollman, and Greg Kotis, you can enjoy the jubilant love-song duet, “Follow Your Heart”.
Attendees will also experience dramatic script readings from the plays: Reinventing Eden (a West Coast Premiere) by Seth Rozin, Bang Bang You’re Dead by William Mastrosimone (part of the TRS season premiere titled, Acts of Desperation) and Over There/Over Here (a West Coast Premiere) by Michael Reyes.
From the cult-favorite, Off-Broadway sensation, Bat Boy the Musical by Lawrence O’Keefe, Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming - TRS will present The show’s opening number “Hold Me, Bay Boy” and closing out the “Season Sampler” will be an extended song sequence also from Bat Boy the Musical including “Joyful Noise”, “Let Me Walk Among You” and the “Joyful Noise Reprise”.
TRS was founded by its Artistic Director, Ray Buffer, and the “Season Sampler” is directed by T. J. Dawson. Both will be in attendance along with Lucas Pakes, stage director for the upcoming production of Acts of Desperation.
Each presentation will last approximately 45 minutes and is free to attend as part of the San Pedro Tri-Arts Festival. Come get a FREE sample of what The Relevant Stage is bringing to Warner Grand Theater in 2008!
About TRS' 2008 Season: Reflecting the history of the Warner Grand Theater as a cinematic and performing arts space, the first production will be a mixed media offering consisting of excerpts from an award-winning documentary film, RATS & BULLIES by filmmaker, Roberta McMillan and a dynamic, dramatic play by renowned playwright, William Mastrosimone titled, BANG BANG YOU’RE DEAD. Both are blended with and complemented by interpretive dance. Conceived by TRS’ founder and artistic director, Ray Buffer - ACTS OF DESPERATION is the name of the entire presentation and is directed by Lucas Pakes.
RATS & BULLIES investigates the suicide of Dawn-Marie Wesley, a 14-year-old girl, motivated by teen bullying, and the precedent setting court case that followed where the teen bullies were made to stand trial for their actions. The story had been featured on the "Oprah Winfrey Show," and reveals the tale of relational aggression that in this case led to death or what has been termed, bullycide. The film also focuses on the unintentional, yet irreparable damage done to the lives of Dawn-Marie’s family, friends and community by Dawn Marie’s choice to take her own life.
BANG BANG YOU'RE DEAD is the disconcerting story of a boy who goes on a school shooting rampage. The play takes place in the boy's jail cell as the ghosts of his victims demand answers, and explain to him that their lives had meaning. Following the each presentation, an audience discussion will be offered with the filmmakers, cast of the play, and the director.
The second production will be a West Coast Premiere of OVER THERE/OVER HERE, written by Michael Reyes. Reyes was 22 when he began writing this play for New York’s Cabrillo Theatre using examples from his own experiences as an Iraq war veteran. The protagonist, Marcus, is a young man who grew up in a rough Brooklyn neighborhood, and with his options limited by poverty, he chooses to enlist in the US Military.
The first half of the story takes place "over there" - Iraq, prior to Saddam Hussein's capture. The second half of the story takes place three months later "over here" - once Marcus has returned home, and after the fall of Baghdad. The story examines with respect to all viewpoints, the cost of war, the value of sacrifice, and the hopes of the young. Ray Buffer will direct.
Performances are May 29, 30 & 31 at 7PM and June 1 at 2PM. Tickets will be $25 for adults 19-64, $20 for college students with ID and seniors 65+ and $5 for teens, 18 and under. Because of the mature subject matter and occasional profanity in the play, this event is not recommended for audiences younger than 12. Parental discretion is advised.
Two musicals are offered in the summer. UrineTown THE MUSICAL, makes its San Pedro debut. Bobby, a young man living in a future world where Earth's natural resources have been outpaced by population growth, tries to change the world. This irreverent story posits a planet where all water, even urine is a valued commodity that must be regulated. Public toilets run by government contractors insure that no one can "pee for free".
Feeling oppressed by the government’s penchant for conservation, Bobby stirs a revolution against the status quo in a comedy full of rousing tunes, sensational parody, exuberant dance and unexpected twists! This musical by Mark Hollman and Greg Kotis was nominated for an impressive 10 Tony Awards, winning in 2002 for Best Book, Score, and Direction. The show also won the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Musical.
Performances are August 7, 8 & 9 and 14, 15 & 16 at 7PM as well as August 10 & 17 at 2PM. Tickets will be $35 for adults 19-64, $30 for college students with ID and seniors 65+ and $5 for youths, 18 and under. This musical contains adult humor. Parental discretion is advised.
BAT BOY THE MUSICAL appears just prior to Halloween, also making its San Pedro debut. The story is derived from the pop culture icon, “Bat Boy” as created by Weekly World News for its supermarket tabloid publication. In this off-Broadway cult hit, by Lawrence O’Keefe, Keythe Farley and Brian Fleming, a boy with fangs and pointy ears is discovered in a cave. He is taken in by a veterinarian, his wife and daughter and named Edgar. At first he is kept in a cage. As he grows up he is taught to be civilized. Edgar finds conditional acceptance within the small town despite the strange happenings that surround him.
However, Edgar’s cravings are not "normal", and ultimately he must define himself: is he beast or man? What are his true origins? Should he conform to societal norms, and can he? This dark, offbeat, musical comedy will tug at your heart and make you cheer.
Performances are October 16, 17 & 18 and 23, 24 & 25 at 7PM in addition to October 19 and 26 at 2PM. Tickets will be $35 for adults 19-64, $30 for college students with ID and seniors 65+ and $5 for youths, 18 and under. This musical contains adult situations. Parental discretion is advised.
Both UrineTown and BAT BOY are directed by T.J. Dawson.
Rounding out this first season by THE RELEVANT STAGE is another West Coast Premiere, this one by playwright Seth Rozin titled, RENVENTING EDEN. This thought-provoking play premiered in Philadelphia at InterAct Theatre in 2006
In REINVENTING EDEN, Jonas is a geneticist who is about to be honored for his life's work. But on the eve of this recognition, dark family secrets are revealed. Twenty years earlier, Jonas tampered with the genes of his unborn, second son in order to insure that he not be born with the same special needs as his first son.
REINVENTING EDEN raises complex and controversial questions about our innately human desire to give our children a better future, ultimately asking "should anything stop us from creating perfect babies?" Jonas did what he thought was right. And now he must answer the question: "when you make the perfect baby, do you love the less-than-perfect one, less? Ray Buffer will direct.
Performances are December 11, 12, & 13 7PM and December 14 at 2PM. Tickets will be $25 for adults 19-64, $20 for college students with ID and seniors 65+ and $5 for youths, 18 and under. Parental discretion is advised.
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