Coeurage Theatre Company's THE YELLOW BOAT Opens Tonight

Coeurage Theatre Company, LA's 'Pay What You Want' Company, has announced the first production of its 2014 season, The Yellow Boat by David Saar. Directed by Joseph V. Calarco, the opening is set for tonight, April 19 at 8pm. The Yellow Boat will play through May 25 at GTC Burbank.

Based on the true story of David and Sonja Saar's son Benjamin, The Yellow Boat is a glorious affirmation of a child's life and the strength and courage of all children. The play celebrates the value of living life fully and richly in the moment, and with playfulness and creativity explores real people overcoming very real fears. Recommended for kids over age eight, parents, and families. Originally presented by Childsplay at the Tempe Performing Arts Center in Arizona.

The cast will feature (in alphabetical order) Katelyn Gault, Ivy Khan, Cody Klop, TJ Marchbank, Joseph O'Malley, Kurt Quinn, Joey Nicole Thomas, and Malika Williams. The production design is by Tito Fleetwood Ladd, costume design is by Marcy Hiartzka, and sound design is by Joseph V. Calarco. Original music for The Yellow Boat is by Gregory Nabours, and choreography is by Janet Roston.

Playwright David Saar is the founder and artistic director of Childsplay in Tempe, AZ, which was formed in 1977. Among the many productions he has directed for the company are Still Life with Iris, A Year with Frog and Toad, Pero or the Mystery of the Night, Afternoon of the Elves, and Cyrano. Saar has also directed The Origins of Happiness for Arizona Theatre Company, Charlotte's Web, The Yellow Boat, and Tomas and the Library Lady for Seattle Children's Theatre, and The BFG for Chicago Theatre for Young Audiences. He has been the recipient of the Governor's Arts Award (1989), the national Winifred Ward Dare to Dream Fellowship (1991), the Phoenix Futures Forum's Dream Weavers Vision Award (1993), the first Notable Achievement Award from the Herberger College of Fine Arts (2002), the Thomas DeGaetani Award from the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (2007), and the prestigious Medallion Award from the Children's Theatre Foundation (2010) to honor artistic excellence and Childsplay's national influence during its 33-year history.

Director Joseph V. Calarco previously directed The 4th Graders Present an Unnamed Love- Suicide for Coeurage and is also a frequent actor and sound designer with the company. His stage appearances include Balm in Gilead, No. Saints Lane, LA Lights Fire, and The Rocky Horror Show. Past sound designs include A Bright Room Called Day, Translations, Balm in Gilead, Is He Dead?, Double Falsehood, No. Saints Lane, Bash: Latter-Day Plays, Head Over Heels, LA Lights Fire, Hats, Nudes & Immortality, and Brief Interviews with Hideous Men.

The Yellow Boat will play one preview performance on Friday, April 18 at 8pm and opening is set for Saturday, April 19 at 8pm. The running schedule is Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 4pm through May 25 only. All seats are available on a Pay What You Want basis, and may be reserved online at https://coeurage.secure.force.com/ticket, or by calling (323) 944-2165.