Miners Alley Playhouse to Present COLLECTED STORIES, 6/7-14

Ruth Steiner (Billie McBride) is a teacher and respected short story writer. Her student and protégée is Lisa Morrison (Devon James). Over the course of 6 years, Lisa journeys from insecure student to successful writer. After publishing a well-received collection of short stories, Lisa writes a novel based on Ruth's affair with the poet Delmore Schwartz. The women deal with the moral dilemma of whether a person's life events are suitable for another to use in their own creative process.

Delmore Schwartz was a real-life poet and short-story writer, though the characters of "Ruth Steiner" and "Lisa" are both entirely fictional.

Miners Alley Playhouse presents "Collected Stories" June 7 through July 14. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 6 p.m. (2 p.m. on Sunday, July 14). Tickets are $19.00 to $29.50 with senior, student and group rates available by calling 303-935-3044 or online at minersalley.com.

Opening night, June 7, features a hors d' oeuvres gala reception after the show; the audience is invited to join the festivities and mingle with the cast at no extra charge. On Saturday, June 15 Miners Alley holds its "Second Saturday Members Appreciation Night" and conversation with the director, cast and crew after the performance.

Billie McBride* revisits "Collected Stories" this year as an actress, having directed the show, starring Patty Mintz Figel (Ruth) and Heather Nicolson (Lisa), in 2002 at the Mizel Center for Arts and Culture. McBride has extensive Broadway, off-Broadway, film and television credits. She toured the country with Angela Lansbury in "Gypsy" and Nancy Kelly in "The Gingerbread Lady." Since moving to Denver she has graced many stages, winning a CTG Henry Award for the Miner's Alleys' production of "Grace and Glorie" and Westord's Best Comedy Performance for "Skin of Our Teeth." McBride received a Denver Post Ovation Award for Best Actress in "Wit" and Best Supporting Actress in "Over the Tavern." She was nominated for an Emmy for Narration of the PBS Documentary "Ski." *Billie McBride appears courtesy of Actors Equity Association.

Since moving to Denver in 2011 Devon James has appeared in "Dividing the Estate" at the Arvada Center, Denver Children's Theatre's "Lily's Purple Plastic Purse," Denver Center Theatre Company's "Heartbreak House" and has appeared in roles for Curious New Voices and The Athena Project. Devon appeared in Curious Theatre Company's production of "Time Stands Still "and was honored with a 2012 True West Award as Best Supporting Actress in a drama for her portrayal of Mandy. She and McBride team up once again in the upcoming production of "Steel Magnolias."

Miners Alley Playhouse presents "Collected Stories", June 7 - July 14, playing Fri. and Sat. @ 7:30 p.m. and Sun @ 6 p.m. (2 p.m. on July 14). Tickets: $19.00 - $29.50; senior, student and group rates available. Call 303-935-3044 or online at www.minersalley.com. Miners Alley Playhouse is located at 1224 Washington Avenue (13th and Washington 2nd floor entrance on 13th) in Golden, CO.

Pictured: Billie McBride (Ruth) and Devon James (Lisa). Photo Credit: JR Cody Schuyler.