FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NOSTALGIC COMEDY LEAVING IOWA ARRIVES AT THE
LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE FOR ITS WEST COAST PREMIERE
NOVEMBER 11 – DECEMBER 14, 2008
New play by Tim Clue and Spike Manton is a Sentimental
and Humorous Ode to Families—and Family Vacations
LAGUNA BEACH, CA – November 14, 2008 – Remember those childhood family vacations you tried to forget? Those memories will come flooding back when you come to The Laguna Playhouse for the West Coast Premiere of Leaving Iowa by Tim Clue and Spike Manton November 11 – December 14, 2008.
Told in flashback, this hilarious sentimental comedy about a journalist who returns home to Winterset, Iowa to find a final resting place for his father’s ashes is a nostalgic ode to days gone by. As the journalist searches for the perfect spot to scatter the ashes, he relives the summer vacations he spent as boy trapped in the family station wagon en route to uninteresting historical sites with well-meaning but naïve parents and a bickering sibling. With a generous dollop of humor and a heart as big as the Midwest, Leaving Iowa shows us that the journey really is as important as the destination.
“Comedy is a familiar companion, and so are memories,” says Clue. “Who hasn’t been in their car and heard a song on the radio, and all of a sudden you’re transported back to a specific time and place. That’s what I want this play to do. It’s a time capsule that needs to be captured both humorously and sincerely. Where the movie Vegas Vacation made mockery of vacations, I hope Leaving Iowa is more of a sentimental journey.”
The cast of Leaving Iowa includes Kevin Symons (Don), Gregory North (Dad), Jill Brennan (Mom), Erin Bennett (Sis), JJ Rodgers (Multiple Character Female) and Roy Abramsohn (Multiple Character Male).
The production team includes John Berger, scenic design; Dwight Richard Odle, costume design; Paulie Jenkins, lighting design; David Edwards, sound design; Rebecca M. Green, stage manager; Wally Ziegler, casting director; Jim Ryan, production manager.
BIOS
Tim Clue’s first writing gig was – and still is – stand-up comedy. However, in 1991 I established Short Story Theater with Marco Benassi, a multimedia theatrical company that combined short fiction adaptations with documentary footage. Greek Streets was the theater’s inaugural work; using short stories by Chicago’s Greek scribe Harry Mark Petrakis. Other Definitions of Confinement premiered at the National Jewish Theater in 1993 and introduced the life and writings of Russian political prisoner Dmitry Stonov. In 1997, Coloring Potential, focused on the stories of Chicago’s inner-city youth. In 1999, Spike Manton and I wrote and directed a Chicago-based television sitcom pilot Tiny Pig that made into the ‘can’, but not on TV. Like all failed projects, it is currently being adapted into a comedy musical. Leaving Iowa is also being written as a screenplay. I grew up in Rochelle, IL, and I still live in Chicago with my wife, Kathryn Lake, and one cat, no kids, and no station wagon.
Spike Manton was born on a farm in upstate New York, but my parents moved us to a bustling metropolis of almost two thousand people, where I grew up in your standard 1960’s family unit of four kids, two parents and one station wagon. As child number three, I am very familiar with the seating location known as “the way back.” After graduating Bradley University, I moved to Chicago, quit my cushy Procter & Gamble sales job, got married and began a career in standup comedy. Standup lead to some cable TV shows like Evening at the Improv, MTV and Comedy Central and more importantly, a career in radio. Over the past 10 years I have been on The Steve Dahl Show, ESPN Radio and the LOOP. Along the way, I have been trying to create, write and produce from right here in Chicago with my college friend, Tim Clue. Leaving Iowa is the best example of executing that plan to date. Finally, I need to credit my wife, Tami for the work she did with the production. It was way more than Group Sales, and while I’m still not sure I recommend working with your spouse, I am more than grateful.
Roy Abramsohn (Multiple Character Guy) is originally from Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Roy is a pianist who graduated witha Bachelor of Musicdegree from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.Last February, he hosted Young People's Concert on Romantic Music with the New York Philharmonicin Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City, and also played pianowith the orchestra. He originated the role of Stephen, the concert pianist, in the Pulitzer Prize-nominated, two-man drama, Old Wicked Songs at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia, where he also played the dual role of Chico and Harpo Marx in Groucho: A Life in Revue.Groucho was then taped live by NJN, New Jersey Public Television, at thehistoric Westport Country Playhouse in Connecticut and has been aired nationallyon PBS. His other stage credits include two years at the Oregon Shakespearean Festival in Ashland, Dirty Blondeat Portland Center Stage, the West Coast Premiere of Israel Horovitz's Lebensraum (Fountain Theatre, Los Angeles), Lewis and Clark Reach the Euphrates (Mark Taper Forum), Gunmetal Bluesand Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (San Jose Stage), Trumbo (with Joe Mantegna the Falcon Theatre), Taking Sides and A Chorus of Disapproval (OdysseyTheatre, Los Angeles). Roy just completed a four month run of The Last Schwartz at the Zephyr Theater in LA.He has done numerous television commercials as well as many guest appearances on television including “Strong Medicine,” “Without a Trace,” “American Dreams,” “The Parkers” and an upcoming episode of “Medium.” Mr. Abramsohn has appeared infeature films includingThe Dukes and Creepshow 3.
Erin Bennett (Sis) recently starred as Sally Bowles in International City Theatre’s production of Cabaret. She performed the role of Lady Caroline in Dear Brutus at A Noise Within, Annie in The Last Mass at Casimirs for McCoy/Rigby/La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, as well as in the inaugural production of Hippolytos at the Fleischman Theatre at the Getty Villa. Previously, she created the role of Madge Larrabee in the World Premiere of Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure (co-produced by Arizona Theatre Company/Pasadena Playhouse). Other Los Angeles theatre credits include Woman #1/Voice of Susan in the World Premiere of Open Window (Pasadena Playhouse), the American premiere of Noel Cowards Star Quality (Pasadena Playhouse), Agnes in Moliere’s The School for Wives (A Noise Within), Peppermint Patty in Snoopy!!! (Falcon Theatre), and Debbie in Tom Stoppard’s The Real Thing (International City Theatre). Tours include The Odd Couple (Female Version) starring Barbara Eden, Titania in Midsummer Nights Dream (New Jersey Shakespeare Festival), and Vi Petty in Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Theatre League). Erin has recorded several voiceovers, and is the voice of the comic book heroine Little Red Hot for Rumble City Graphics. On television, Erin can be seen on The Last Stand of the 300 and in national commercials for Southwest Airlines and Honda. Ms. Bennett trained at LAMDA and is a Boston University graduate.
Jill Brennan (Mom) is making her Orange County debut at The Laguna Playhouse. Some of Jill’s Broadway and regional credits include John Patrick Shanley’s Psychopathia Sexualis at Manhattan Theatre Club directed by Daniel Sullivan, Moon Over Buffalo at Cleveland Playhouse and Arena Stage directed by John Rando, The Taming Of The Shrew, Merry Wives of Windsor and Steel Magnolias at The Alley Theatre, Breaking Legs at the Jupiter Theatre, Sly Fox and Macbett at Bristol Riverside Theatre, and Bobby Gould in Hell at New Hope Arts Festival. TV: “If These Walls Could Talk II” (HBO), “When Billie Beat Bobby” (MOW/ ABC), “Ally McBeal,” “Judging Amy,” “The Drew Carey Show,” “Boston Legal,” (Gracie Jane, recurring), “Desperate Housewives” (Tish Atherton, recurring), “The Gilmore Girls,” (Crazy Carrie, recurring), “Law and Order” and “Robertson’s Greatest Hits” with George Wendt (pilot).
Gregory North (Dad) was last seen at The Laguna Playhouse in the world premiere of The Verdi Girls. Growing up in Wisconsin he visited relatives in Iowa every summer on the way to a family adventure - including visits to The Dells - in the back of a Ford station wagon. Greg just spent some enchanted evenings as Emile de Becque in South Pacific for Downey CLO. He began his Broadway career in the original Into the Woods, with Bernadette Peters, he was Mandy Patinkin's standby in The Secret Garden, Tony Randall's nephew in A Christmas Carol, and Cyd Charisse’s Baron in Grand Hotel. National tours include The Phantom of the Opera, Show Boat, Footloose, and Les Misérables. Regional theatre includes more than 100 shows at such theatres as The Kennedy Center, Actors’ Theatre of Louisville, Buffalo Studio Arena, Arizona Theatre Co., North Shore Music Theatre, Kansas City Starlight, Chanhassen, Drury Lane Oakbrook and Sacramento Music Circus. Los Angeles credits include Amadeus opposite Michael York & Neil Patrick Harris and Sound of Music (Hollywood Bowl), Caught in the Net (Ovation Award) Ray Cooney author/director (International City Theatre), Light up the Sky for Chris Hart (South Bay CLO, Rubicon Theatre, Malibu Stage Co.), Happy Days the Musical for Garry Marshall (The Falcon), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, On the 20th Century, and Sunday in the Park...for Jason Alexander (REPRISE!). Greg holds an MFA from the University of Washington Professional Actor Training Program under Robert Hobbs and is an alum of the Lincoln Center Theatre Director's Lab West. A proud member of Actors Equity since 1985, he serves on its National Council.
JJ Rodgers (Multiple Character Female) is a graduate of the University of Southern California, and has appeared on numerous stages throughout the state. No novice to originating new roles, she has most recently been seen starring as Ginger Rogers in the World Premiere musical Ginger and Me in Palm Desert. Other favorite theatre credits include Goneril (King Lear), Adelaide (Guys and Dolls), Julia (The Two Gentlemen of Verona), Helena (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Beatrice (Much Ado About Nothing), Sea Witch (Little Mermaid), Mistress Ford (The Merry Wives of Windsor), Peggy (Come Blow Your Horn), Philia (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum) Tansy (The Nerd) and Tonya (Scream Queens, originated role). TV Credits include: “Two and a Half Men,” “The Hank Azaria Show,” “The Michael Richards Show,” “3rd Rock from the Sun,” “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” “Caroline in the City,” “Arli$$” and “Arrest and Trial.” She is thrilled to be making her debut here at The Laguna Playhouse and to be working with such a talented cast. Since they couldn’t decide where she would fit best, they decided to put her in as many roles as possible. She would like to dedicate this performance to the man who holds her heart, her supportive fiancé, Travis. She is a proud member of Actors’ Equity.
Kevin Symons (Don) is very pleased to be in his seventh production at The Laguna Playhouse. Earlier this year he was in the World Premiere of Alexandros and prior to that appeared in Shear Madness, Rounding Third, The Constant Wife, Tabletop and Spinning Into Butter. Most recently he appeared in She Loves Me at the Rubicon Theatre. At the Colony Theatre he appeared in The Nerd, Gunmetal Blues, Stage Struck, Rounding Third and Beautiful in the Extreme. Other theatre credits include Twice Upon A Time (South Bay Cities C.L.O.), Wicked City Blues (York Theatre, Off-Broadway), New World (MET Theatre), Tallulah and Tennessee with Betty Garrett, Baby Cradle and All with Lee Meriwether and Steve Allen’s A Christmas Carol (Theatre West), Demon Wine with Tom Waits and Bill Pullman, Death of a Salesman, The Crucible and Boys’ Life (Los Angeles Theatre Center), Our Town (Grove Shakespeare), Finding the Sun directed by Edward Albee and The Hairy Ape directed by Jose Quintero. On television he was a series regular on the NBC comedy “Darcy’s Wild Life” and has numerous other appearances including recurring and guest star roles on “My Name Is Earl,” “Numbers,” “Big Shots,” “Mad Men,” “Shark,” “Drive,” “iCarly,” “Medium,” “Veronica Mars,” “Joan of Arcadia,” “The West Wing,” “The Bold and the Beautiful,” “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch,” HBO’s “Indictment,” and the new Showtime series “United States Of Tara.” Film credits include Alvin and the Chipmunks, Terminator II, Valhalla, The Little Death, The Wild Side and A New Tomorrow.
Performance & Ticket Information:
Ticket Prices: $25 to $65
Previews:
November 11 – 14
Opening Night Gala:
Saturday, November 15, 2008: 7:30 p.m.
(By invitation only and press night)
Regular Performances
November 16 – December 14, 2008
Tuesday – Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m.
Thursday matinee November 13: 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday matinee November 26: 2:00 p.m.
Sunday evenings, November 30 & December 7: 7:00 p.m.
(no performances on Thanksgiving Day, November 27)
Special Half Price Tickets for Students, Teachers and Military with ID:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday Evenings / Saturday Matinees
FOR INFORMATION & TO PURCHASE TICKETS:
CALL: 949.497.ARTS (2787) - GROUP SALES: 949.497.2787 ext. 229
VISIT: www.LagunaPlayhouse.com
MOULTON THEATRE: 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, California
Parking Information
Laguna Beach is a popular destination year round. On weekends, holidays and during the summer months we strongly encourage theatre patrons who are driving to the theatre to arrive early to allow time for parking. There is a private parking lot located behind The Laguna Playhouse. A modest fee applies. There is additional parking across the street in a municipal parking lot, as well as metered street parking.
