The world premiere production of COME SUNDOWN is first up on the Ruskin Group Theatre's main stage schedule for 2011.
In a time of hyper-expanding population and development, two clever young attorneys set out to defend their community against interlopers. Even a law degree cannot prepare them for the mysterious spiritual journey that they are about to embark upon.
KAREN LANDRY (Director) directed the West Coast premiere of
Daisy Foote's When They Speak Of Rita at Pacific Resident Theatre, where she also directs
Orson Bean every season in his adaptation of A Christmas Carol. Karen has often worked at South Coast Rep, San Jose Rep, and she directed the world premiere production of Jesse Boy at Ruskin Group Theatre last year. At the Odyssey Theater she starred in Flags with Chris Mulkey, and performed in the play again Off Broadway at the
59E59 Theaters, where she also appeared in Pure Confidence. Karen became a member of the Guthrie Theater when she began her career and has performed in many of their productions including A Streetcar Named Desire, Arsenic and Old Lace, A Winter's Tale, and most recently in Frozen (as Nancy Shirley), and The Clean House (as Virginia). Film credits include roles in Sweetland, Peaceful Warrior, Shattered, Dragon Wars, Jimmy Zip, The Personals, as well as writing the film Patti Rocks. Television credits include Six Feet Under, The Division, The Practice, JAG,
Beverly Hills 90291(as Hillary Swank's Mom), and as Myra White for three years on St Elsewhere. When not directing,Karenteaches acting for UCLA's Entertainment Studies.
COME SUNDOWN opens Saturday, March 26th and runs through May 14, 2011 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm (No show on April 24). Ruskin Group Theatre is located at 3000 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90405. Tickets are $25 ($20 for students, seniors, and guild members, with further discounts that may apply for groups) and can be purchased in advance by calling (310) 397-3244. For more information please visit
www.ruskingrouptheatre.com. Free parking is available at the theater.
ANTHONY F. CRONIN (Playwright) began working in, and writing for, theatre at Colgate University, one of the leading liberal arts institutions in the country. While in the Masters Degree program (Arizona State University and Cornell University), Tony focused on all aspects of theatre including writing and directing. While at Cornell, he founded and was Artistic Director for the Cornell University Summer Shakespeare Festival for three years. In New York, Cronin worked with off-Broadway theater companies and directed at the New York international Fringe Festival (Andrew Brauer's DryClean). In Los Angeles, he continues to work as a writer, director and actor in independent and feature films, and television. In addition to having written more than a dozen stage plays (produced in New York and Los Angeles), Cronin has written several screenplays, and recently completed his first novel "Twisted." His latest play, "Of the Beholder," was produced at the Tribeca Playhouse in New York City, and is being considered for a Fall 2011 production in the Los Angeles area as well as a film adaptation.
RUSKIN GROUP THEATRE has been making an impact on the Los Angeles theatre scene with an eclectic mix of thought provoking plays, garnering numerous 'recommendations' from local critics. 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 7th anniversary, RGT supporters
Ed Asner,
Dylan McDermott, Chris Mulkey,
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 first teachers at Ruskin School of Theatre.
Michael Myers (Producer/Managing Director) has produced more than 65 projects since 2002. He recently directed the world premiere of Digging Up Dad and the critically acclaimed production of Faithfulat RGT. Mike is a co-creator of the Ruskin Group Theatre's well attended CAFÉ PLAYS, the monthly offering of one-acts that are done in 10 ½ hours from conception to staging. He serves as vice-chair of the Santa Monica Arts Commission
JOHN RUSKIN (Artistic Director) helmed the critically acclaimed production of Strange Snow at RGT. His years of experience include studies at the Yale School of Drama, British American Drama Academy in Oxford, England, and the University of Colorado in Boulder. In New York, Ruskin joined the acting faculty of
The Neighborhood Playhouse at the request of
Sanford Meisner (who he then apprenticed with) before moving to Los Angeles where he founded his own school of acting and a professional theatre company. The company provides outreach programs to people in need with their "Healing Through the Arts" project.
