TheatreWorks presents the West Coast Premiere

Now Circa Then

By Carly Mensch, Story Editor of TV's "Weeds"

When
Event has passed (Wed Mar 7, 2012 - Sun Apr 1, 2012)
Cost
$19 - $69
Tags
Theater, Performance Arts

Description

TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, presents the West Coast Premiere of the off-beat comedy NOW CIRCA THEN by Carly Mensch, story editor for TV’s popular series Weeds. Told with spunk and candor, the play follows the romance between two historical re-enactors in New York City, and what happens when past and present intertwine. NOW CIRCA THEN will be helmed by New Works Director Meredith McDonough and plays March 7 – April 1, 2012 at the Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto (1305 Middlefield Road). For information or to order tickets ($19-$69) call (650) 463-1960 or visit theatreworks.org

Searching for her place in the world and desperate for a job, Margie moves to the Big Apple with a classic case of the quarter-life crisis. She accepts a position as an historical re-enactor at a tenement museum, playing an 1890 Jewish immigrant from West Prussia. Portraying her fictional husband is Gideon, a fanatical history buff and a veteran of several wars (reenacted). Between the set of their tenement apartment and the museum break room, Gideon, who never wants to let go, and Margie, who can barely hold on, find their private lives entwined with their married characters’—influencing their reenactments with hilarious results.

For this “historical” romance, TheatreWorks welcomes Bay Area newcomers Kimiye Corwin (Margie) and Matt Harrington (Gideon). A Julliard graduate, Corwin has been seen in many roles in regional productions, including “Hatsue” in Snow Falling on Cedars (Hartford Stage) and ”Ophelia” in Hamlet (Shakespeare Festival St. Louis), and appeared in a recurring role on One Life to Live. Harrington, who has an MFA from Tisch School of the Arts, has appeared in a variety of roles at the Portland Stage Company, Syracuse Stage, and Weston Playhouse.

Carly Mensch (Author) is currently a story editor on the Showtime series Weeds. Her other plays include All Hail Hurricane Gordo and Len, Asleep in Vinyl. She has developed works at The Kennedy Center, Marin Theatre Company, New York Stage & Film, Center Theatre Group, and Ars Nova, where she was the 2008 Playwright-in-Residence, as well as a founding member of Play Group.

TheatreWorks Director of New Works Meredith McDonough helms this West Coast Premiere. She has directed over twenty world premiere plays and musicals, including the world premiere of Laura Schellhardt’s Auctioning the Ainsleys in TheatreWorks’ 2010-2011 season. Recently, McDonough directed the regional premieres of Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen’s [title of show] and Michael Hollinger’s Opus at TheatreWorks, for which she won the Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award for Best Direction in 2010. Before coming to TheatreWorks, McDonough had been actively developing new works at theatres including Actors Theatre of Louisville, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Round House Theatre, The Public Theatre, LABryinth Theatre Company, Ars Nova, Women’s Project and Productions, New Georges, and the Drama League. She spent two years as the New Works Program Director at the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, and three seasons as a resident director at Actors Theatre of Louisville, famed for its annual Humana Festival of New American Plays.

With some 100,000 patrons per year, TheatreWorks has captured a national reputation for artistic innovation and integrity, often presenting Bay Area theatregoers with their first look at acclaimed musicals, comedies, and dramas, directed by award-winning local and guest directors, and performed by professional actors cast from across the country. A home for artists developing new works, it was at TheatreWorks that Memphis, the 2010 Tony Award-winning musical now in its third year on Broadway and currently on its first US tour, was first workshopped and received its world premiere.

More Info

Link
http://www.theatreworks.org
Call
650.463.1960 (Box Office)

Schedule

Lucie Stern Theatre & Community Center
1305 Middlefield Road
Palo Alto, CA
Event has passed

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Location

  1. Lucie Stern Theatre & Community Center
    1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA