Ruskin Group Theatre announces the WORLD PREMIERE production of "MUTINY AT PORT CHICAGO"
Written by Paul Leaf Opening Friday, July 10, 2009 with reception to follow. Running Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm
Press notes describe the play as, "Jolted in the night, San Francisco's East Bay residents attempted to shield themselves from shattering windows as the sky blazed. 320 people were killed, 400 more were injured, and everything within a one mile radius was destroyed in a flash. 50 survivors were imprisoned for mutiny. If you have not heard about the worst home front military disaster in our history, you will now know why. If you had already known about it, you will find out that there is still much more to the story."
The world premiere of MUTINY AT PORT CHICAGO follows the Ruskin Group Theatre's recently successful run of BURN THIS and FAITHFUL which both received several rave reviews and a ‘CRITICS PICK,' or two, by local reviewers. A world premiere of the
John Powers play @HEART, recommended by five local critics (including the Los Angeles Times), was the Ruskin season opener in 2008.
Paul Leaf (Director) is a multi-award winner (Peabody Award for JUDGE HORTON & THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS and for his production of SERGEANT MATLOVICH VS. THE US AIR FORCE). He has directed numerous productions, receiving recognition for his work as a screenwriter and producer as well. On Broadway Paul has worked with
Moss Hart and
Elia Kazan and Off-Broadway/regionally he has worked with the
Alvin Ailey Dance Company, NY Shakespeare Festival, Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Guthrie Theater, and Goodspeed Opera.
Mike Myers (Producer) has produced more than 50 projects since 2002. He recently directed FAITHFUL at RGT. Mike is a co-creator of the Ruskin's critically acclaimed CAFÉ PLAYS, a monthly offering of one-acts that are done in 10 ½ hours from conception to staging.
Ruskin Group Theatre has been making an impact on the Los Angeles theatrical scene with an eclectic mix of thought provoking plays and programs. Their ‘Fostering Imagination' program sponsors foster kids in theatre & film classes that produce several original shows each year. The CAFÉ PLAYS, created by RGT are produced monthly and are the culmination of writers, actors, and directors who meet at 9am, where they are given a theme. They then write, produce, and perform a show by 7pm the same day. Recently celebrating their 5th anniversary, RGT supporters
Ed Asner,
Dylan McDermott, Chris Malkey,
Olivia d'Abo, and other industry celebrities joined to produce the Best of Café Plays (both shows sold out within hours).
Anthony Hopkins and
Anthony Franciosa were some of the Ruskin School of Theatre's first teachers.
MUTINY AT PORT CHICAGO opens Friday, July 10th and runs through August 15, 2009. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm at Ruskin Group Theatre, 3000 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90405. Tickets are $20 ($15 for students, seniors, and guild members) and can be purchased in advance by calling (310) 397-3244. For more information please visit www.ruskingrouptheatre.com. Free parking at the theater.
John Ruskin (Artistic Director) helmed the critically acclaimed production of UNBEATABLE HAROLD, and STRANGE SNOW which extended its run to accommodate demand from local audiences. John's years of experience include his studies at the Yale School of Drama, British American Drama Academy in Oxford, England, and the University of C olorado in Boulder. In New York, Ruskin joined the acting faculty of The Neighborhood Playhouse at the request of Sanford Meisner (who he apprenticed) before moving to Los Angeles where he founded his own school of acting and a professional theatre company. Last season John directed the admired comedy revival of UNBEATABLE HAROLD.
J. Teddy Garces (Ed) was recently nominated to receive a NAACP Award for his performance in "Woyzech." Three months after arriving in Los Angeles he landed a role in
the Fox Searchlight feature film UNDER THE SAME MOON - which set box office records as a Spanish language film. His next role was for the Lionsgate feature film LADRON QUE ROBA LADRON. This is the second time that J. Teddy has created a role for a world premiere play. The first time was with the Ruskin Group Theatre Company's production of @ HEART, directed by Paul Link.
Maury Sterling (Veltman) is a founding member of the award winning Buffalo Nights Theatre Company. Stage credits include CRAZY DRUNK, FIREBUGS, MODIGLIANI, INCIDENT AT VICHY, and MEAT, all performed with Buffalo Nights. Maury appeared at A Noise Within (MEASURE FOR MEASURE), The Lilian (LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING), The Odyssey (FEDUNN), and ICT (JUDGEMENT AT NUREMBERG). At Ruskin Group Theatre, Maury has appeared in several CAFÉ PLAYS, and in the title role of UNBEATABLE HAROLD directed by John Ruskin. He graduated from UCLA's theatre program and just completed SMOKING ACES PREQUEL.
Josh Drennen (Fontana) has recently appeared in several series on television including WITHOUT A TRACE, LIFE, and ER. He starts work on award winning director Kurt Kuenne's film SHUFFLE this summer.
Cris DAnnunzio (Coakley) has appeared on Broadway and in numerous film and television roles. LA Stage appearances include COBB at the Falcon Theater and the award winning, COCKROACH NATION at LATC. NY stage highlights include MISS JULIE at Manhattan Theater Club. Recent guest starring roles on TV include, WITHOUT A TRACE and LAW and ORDER. His many film appearances include roles in Ridley Scott's AMERICAN GANGSTER and the upcoming CHASING 3000 with
Ray Liotta.
Eric Bivens Bush (Long John) began acting in local theater as a kid in Mobile, Alabama. Eric attended Cornish School of the Fine Arts while acting in numerous industrial films and television shows including THE FACE OF A STRANGER staring
Tyne Daly (CBS) and Fox TV's AMERICA'S MOST WANTED. In Los Angeles Eric has landed guest spots on EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS, ER, and THE KEENAN IVORY WAYANS SHOW, to name a few. He just completed the feature film THE RIG starring
William Forsythe and the feature film titled NO GREATER LOVE. Both films are slated to be released in 2009.
Dana Lynn Bennett (Co-Producer) is a member of the Ruskin Group Theatre and has produced multiple shows there including STRANGE SNOW and COLLISION FESTIV
Al West. Additionally, she is a co-producer of the renowned CAFÉ PLAYS, held monthly at RGT. Dana is also a mentor/teacher for Fostering Imagination, a non-profit organiz ation partnered with RGT, which provides enrichment programs for LA based foster children.
Christina Silvoso (Set Design) designed the set for BURN THIS at Ruskin. Other credits include HEDDA GABLER and THE COUNTRY WIFE at Ark Theatre; Resignation Day at Sacred Fools; SETUP & PUNCH at the
Blank Theatre, and EMILIE - Marquise Du Châtelet Defends Her Life at the Petit Théâtre at Cirey Tonight at South Coast Rep.
