Actors Co-op to Present HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES This October

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2014 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for 110 in the Shade) is thrilled to announce the second show in its 2015-2016 season (and 24th year of producing theatrical excellence in Los Angeles!) with HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES by Tim Kelly, based on the story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and directed by Moosie Drier.

HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES will preview on Wednesday, October 14 and Thursday, October 15 at 8pm and will open on Friday, October 16 at 8pm and run through Sunday, November 22 at the Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

Woe to the ill-begotten Baskervilles. So much fortune. So much fear. Did the butler do it? Maybe the butterfly collectors? The escaped convicts or the ladies in distress? In this classic thriller by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, adapted by Tim Kelly, witty intrigue prevails as Sherlock Holmes and his worthy colleague Dr. Watson tame a hound whose bite may be worse than its bark.

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM AND CAST

SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE (Author) was born Scotland in 1859. As a young boy, Doyle's family shipped him off to England, where he attended a Jesuit preparatory school and then studied at Stonyhurst College for the next five years. Doyle's boarding-school experience was brutal: many of his classmates bullied him. But Doyle found solace in his flair for storytelling. He eventually pursued a medical career at the University of Edinburgh where classmates James Barrie and Robert Louis Stevenson inspired his desire to write. He pursued writing while practicing medicine. Ultimately, he wrote his first novel "A Tangled Skein" (renamed "A Study in Scarlet") which introduced the world to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Doyle went on to write 60 mystery stories featuring the wildly popular Detective Holmes and his loyal assistant Watson, as well as other novels. Doyle died of a heart attack in Crowborough, England on July 7, 1930.

TIM KELLY (Playwright) was born in Saugus, Massachusetts on October 2, 1932. He graduated from Emerson College with a bachelor's degree and received a masters degree in play-writing from Yale University. His first stage play was Widow's Walk, published in the 1960s. At the same time, three of his plays opened: A Darker Flower at New York's Pocket Theatre, The Trunk and All That Jazz at Boston's Image Theatre, and Die Blum in Germany. He wrote over three hundred plays, which have been performed by the Royal Court Rep, the Studio Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Club, Los Angeles Actor's Theatre, the Aspen Playwright's Festival, and the Seattle Repertory Company. Additionally, Kelly was a drama critic and journalist in Phoenix, Arizona (1957-1967) and was particularly noted for the broad scope of his work, which covered everything from mysteries to musicals to serious drama. He was also a screen and television writer (1968-1978). In 1995, he became a member of the College of Fellows of the American Theatre. On December 7, 1998, Tim Kelly died suddenly of a brain hemorrhage (age 61) in his Hollywood home. A Tim Kelly Collection has been established at the University of Wyoming's American Heritage Center. Emerson College has twice honored him for his "contributions to the field of playwriting."

MOOSIE DRIER (Director) is a member of the Directors Guild of America and a theatre veteran. Moosie started out as an actor at the age of 5. He played Jack Lemmon's son in "The War Between Men And Woman." His first role as a series regular was on "Rowan And Martin's Laugh-In." He was also on "The Bob Newhart Show," "Executive Suite" and "Family Ties." His film appearances include "Oh, God," "American Hot Wax" and "Hollywood Nights." He got his first television directing job on "Kids Incorporated" (Disney Channel). He went on to direct "Reba" (WB Network), "Too Late With Adam Carolla" (Comedy Central) and "The Peacemaker" (Pilot). His directorial stage credits include God Of Carnage, Hollywood Shorts, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Lend Me A Tenor and many more. He's thrilled to be directing his third collaboration with ACTORS CO-OP.

The cast of HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES will feature (in alphabetical order): Curt Bonnem, Dennis Baker, Ivy Beech, Townsend Coleman, Charles Constant, Francesca Fromang, Gregory James, Christine Krebsbach, Deborah Marlowe and Lauren Thompson.

HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES has assembled an award-winning design team. Set Design is by Nicholas Acciani. Lighting Design is by Mark Svastics. Sound Design is by Sean Gabel. Costume Design is by Wendell C. Carmichael. Hair and Make-up Design is by Krys Fahervari. The Stage Manager is James Ledesma. HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES is produced by Gina D'Acciaro.

HOUND OF THE will preview on Wednesday, October 14 and Thursday, October 15 at 8pm and will open on Friday, October 16 at 8pm and run through Sunday, November 22 at the Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood. Performances are Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00pm and Sundays at 2:30pm (with Saturday Matinees scheduled for Saturday, October 24 & Saturday, November 14 & 21 at 2:30pm). There is no performance on Halloween.

Ticket prices are $30.00 for all Performances. Seniors (60 and over) - $25 and Students - $20.00 - with Student Rush Tickets available at Friday performances (excluding opening nights) on a first-come, first-serve basis subject to availability. Rush tickets are priced at 1/2 off regular adult tickets price. Tickets may only be purchased 45 minutes prior to curtain at the box office window. Valid Student ID must be shown. One ticket per ID. Cash Only, please. To learn more about Student Rush Tickets, call the box office at (323) 462-8460. Previews are Free to the Public. Group rates are available for parties of 6 or more. Tickets may be purchased by phone at (323) 462-8460 or visit www.ActorsCo-op.org.

Actors Co-op operates two 99-seat Equity-approved theatres on the campus of First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood. Actors Co-op began in 1987 with a dozen actors. Currently, its membership exceeds 50 professionals. Called "a 99-seat miracle" by Daily Variety, Actors Co-op's numerous awards for theatre excellence include the Los Angeles Drama Critics Polly Warfield Award for "Outstanding Season" (2013) in a small to mid-sized theatre, six Ovation Award nominations including "Best Season" (2013-2014), the Margaret Harford Award for "Sustained Achievement" in smaller theatre from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle as well as the Charlie Award for "Excellence in the Arts" by the Hollywood Arts Council.

Since the Crossley Theatre opened its doors in April of 1989 and its second theatre, the David Schall Theatre opened February of 1995, Actors Co-op has produced over 100 main stage productions, over 40 Second Stage productions, staged readings of original works, and has received 19 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards (six wins), 34 LA Weekly Award nominations (six wins), 29 Ovation Award nominations (three wins), five Garland Awards and 125 Drama-Logue Awards. In addition, Actors Co-op was honored with the Margaret Harford Award for "Sustained Achievement" in smaller theatre from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, as well as the Charlie Award for "Excellence in the Arts" by the Hollywood Arts Council.

Actors Co-op is located at 1760 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, CA 90028, on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, 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).