North Coast Rep Ends Run of GHOSTS, 5/2

North Coast Repertory Theatre will end its production of a classic and gripping theatrical event not to be missed...GHOSTS on May 2nd.

*Member of Actors' Equity Association

Written in 1881, GHOSTS is a gripping tale of secrets and lies written as an expose of what Ibsen saw as the sexual hypocrisy of Victorian society. Like many of Ibsen's plays, GHOSTS is a scathing commentary on 19th century morality, yet GHOSTS remains modern as it deals with issues and subject matter still relevant in our time. Presented in North Coast Rep's intimate setting, this haunting tale of unrequited passion, revelation and reconciling the truth is sure to be a powerhouse.

"Any theatre-lover will want to see our production of this brand-new adaptation of Ghosts. Henrik Ibsen is considered the father of modern drama and this was a lynchpin piece of literature that set the world on its' ear. The controversial themes resonate today just as when he wrote them. Combine Ibsen's brilliance with our stellar cast, and North Coast has created a theatrical event to be remembered." -David Ellenstein, Artistic Director of North Coast Rep and Director of Ghosts

David Ellenstein (Director) Artistic Director of North Coast Repertory Theatre, directing credits there include The Tempest, Talley's Folly, Over The Tavern, Old Wicked Songs, The Dresser, Jacques Brel, Madagascar, A Shayna Maidel, Rashomon, A Moon for the Misbegotten, Tuesday's With Morrie, Collected Stories, Halpern and Johnson, Romeo and Juliet, Amy's View, Einstein Comes Through (also co-author), The Chosen, A Life in the Theatre, Story Theatre, and Charley's Aunt. As an actor David has over 100 productions to his credit including the title roles in Hamlet (Los Angeles Theatre Center and L A Rep.) and Richard III (California Shakespeare Festival), as well as over three dozen film and television appearances. David is the former Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Repertory Company and the Arizona Jewish Theatre and has been guest faculty at Cal State Northridge and Cal Arts. Elsewhere credits include; Sonia Flew starring Lucie Arnaz and Halpern and Johnson starring Hal Linden and Brian Murray (Coconut Grove Playhouse), The Chosen starring Theodore Bikel and John Lloyd Young (Coconut Grove Playhouse and Paper Mill Playhouse), Alexandros, world premier (Laguna Playhouse), Rocket City, world premier, and Honky Tonk Angels (Alabama Shakespeare Festival), Rabbit Hole (Actor's Theatre of Phoenix) Cyrano De Bergerac (Southwest Shakespeare Theatre), Long Day's Journey Into Night (Renaissance Theatre Company), Awake and Sing, Old Wicked Songs, and The Chosen (Arizona Jewish Theatre), A Christmas Carol (Meadow Brook Theatre), Hamlet (Kingsmen Shakespeare), King Lear (Los Angeles Repertory Company.), Conversations With My Father (Portland Rep.), and A Shayna Maidel ((Gaslamp Quarter).

Anne-Charlotte Harvey (Dramaturg & Translator) Born in Sweden, educated in Sweden and the U.S. Translator/dramaturg, specializing in Ibsen and Strindberg, with Broadway credits. Board member of the Ibsen Society of America and The August Strindberg Society of Los Angeles (TASSLA), member of LMDA (Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of America). Her Strindberg translations have been seen in Los Angeles, Seattle, Minneapolis, Chicago, Stockholm, Mysore (India), and San Diego (Miss Julie, A Dream Play, Motherlove). Past platform translations have included A Doll House for Mabou Mines, Dance of Death for TASSLA, and Hedda Gabler for SDSU, SCR, the Geffen (LA), and Roundabout (New York). California dramaturgy credits include Shakespeare, Chekhov, Molière, Brecht, Terra Nova, Cripple of Inishmaan, The Voysey Inheritance, as well as Ion Theatre's 2008 Ibsen Cycle. Most recent directing projects John Gabriel Borkman and Dance of Death; her play Fade to White premiered in Grenna, Sweden, in 2009. Translator/dramaturg of Stone Soup's upcoming Miss Julie. Professor Emerita of Theatre at SDSU. In another existence: performer, recording artist and scholar of Scandinavian immigrant songs.

Rosina Reynolds* (Mrs. Helene Alving) Madagascar, Wit, (San Diego Critics Circle Award. Patte Award) Amy's View, The Rivals, Eleanor;North Coast Repertory Theatre. Sea of Tranquility, Trojan Women, Romeo and Juliet, Missing Footage, Burning Hope;Old Globe Theatre.Steel Magnolias, La Mirada Playhouse / Welk Resort Theatre.Doubt, The Clean House, Cymbeline, A Lovely Sunday at Creve Couer, Christmas Carol; San Diego Repertory Theatre; Noises Off, Arcadia, Copenhagen, The Little Foxes;Cygnet Theatre; Shirley Valentine,(San Diego Critics Circle Award) Long Days Journey into Night,(Patte Award)Renaissance Theatre Company.Humble Boy;New Village Arts. Since Africa;Mo'olelo Performing Arts Company. Joyful Noise, Lettuce & Lovage, (Patte Award) Woman of No Importance; Lambs Player's Theatre. Knife in the Heart (Patte Award); Sledgehammer Theatre. In the Fires of Delight; Malashock Dance Company. Arms and the Man; Moonlight Avo. Mrs. Farnsworth, Laterthanever Productions.

Richard Baird* (Osvald Alving) NCR/Miracosta: Tempest (Caliban) NCRT: Rashomon, Moon for the Misbegotten, Romeo and Juliet, Arcadia. Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Cyrano de Bergerac, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Diary of Anne Frank, The Winter's Tale. Kingsmen Shakespeare: title role of Macbeth. Southwest Shakespeare Company: Associate Artistic Director for 2008-09 season: title role of Cyrano de Bergerac (AriZoni Best Actor) and Tartuffe, Winter's Tale (Leontes), Taming of the Shrew (Petruchio, AriZoni Best Actor), Othello (Iago), Merchant of Venice (Bassanio). Founding Artistic Director of Poor Players: Several roles in 20 productions including the title role of Hamlet, Coriolanus, Macbeth, Henry IV, Part One (Hotspur), Richard II (Bolingbroke), Twelfth Night (Malvolio) and Measure for Measure (Angelo, San Diego Critics Circle Award). Richard has also appeared at Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Diversionary Theatre, La Jolla Stage Company and Shakespeare Sedona.

John Herzog* (Pastor Manders) NCR: Leading Ladies, Wit, The Tempest. BROADWAY and NATIONAL TOURS: Hair, Crimes of the Heart. REGIONAL: Laguna Playhouse, Fullerton Civic Light Opera, Portland Stage Co., Indiana Repertory Theatre, Delaware Theatre Co., Arizona Theatre Co., Mark Taper Forum-New Works, Los Angeles Repertory Co. and more. Roles: Prospero in The Tempest, Petruchio in 'Shrew, Malter in The Chosen, Marc in Art, Macheath in Threepenny Opera, Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, Ben Stark in Rocket to the Moon and dozens more. Visit his website for a full resume at www.johnherzog.com. Proud member of Actors Equity since 1969 but by far his most proud production is his daughter Molly.

Jonathan McMurtry* (Carpenter Engstrand) NCR is delighted to have our old friend back for his eighth production here, this time with Ibsen's GHOSTS. He was recently seen as Prospero in Shakespeare's THE TEMPEST as part of our highly successful joint venture with Mira Costa College, and before this as Scrooge in our adaptation of Dicken's A CHRISTMAS CAROL. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) Mr. McMurtry arrived in San Diego in 1961 at The Old Globe Theatre, where he has been a mainstay in over 200 productions. Made an Associate Artist, there, in 1982, he says it means, "Always available. " San Diego audiences have also seen Jonathan in several productions at The San Diego Rep and last year in The Cygnet Theatre's production of NOISES OFF in Old Town. Over the last 50 years, Mr. McMurtry has had leading roles in regional theatres across the United States and Canada, most recently at Boston's Huntington Theatre, and Maine's Portland Stage, where he will return next year.
Film credits include: BEAUTIFUL JOE with Sharon Stone, LITTLE NIKITA with Sidney Poitier, POINT BLANK with Lee Marvin, to name a few. Television: Guest-starring roles on ELI STONE, FRASIER, CHEERS, WINGS, ALMOST PERFECT, and thirtysomething, among others. Awards: 1975 LA Drama Critics' Circle Award for title role in UNCLE VANYA, 5 Craig Noel San Diego Theatre Critics' Circle Awards, 2004 KPBS Patte Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, 2008 Craig Noel San Diego Theatre Critics' Circle Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, "versatile and beloved actor," and a 2008 proclamation from the San Diego County Board of Supervisors commending him for his body of work and "outstanding service and commitment to area residents throughout San Diego." Jonathan lives in Vista with his beloved and talented wife, Terri, and their astonishing daughter, Coral.

Aimee Burdette (Regine Engstrand) Aimee is in her third year at MiraCosta Community College where she just played Miranda in the joint production with the North Coast Rep of The Tempest. She is hoping to transfer to either UCLA or UCI this coming fall to achieve her Bachelors in performing arts. Favorite credits include Ginger Brooks
(1940's Radio Hour), Rebecca Gibbs (Our Town), and the staged reading of Into the Woods in the part of Little Red. She is so grateful and excited to be working with David and this exceedingly talented cast in Ghosts, her North Coast debut.

The cast for GHOSTS includes:
Rosina Reynolds* (Mrs. Helene Alving)
Richard Baird* (Beth)
John Herzog* (Pastor Manders)
Jonathan McMurtry* (Carpenter Engstrand)
Aimee Burdette (Regine Engstrand)
*Member of Actors' Equity Association

The design team for GHOSTS includes:
David Ellenstein (Director)
Anne-Charlotte Harvey (Dramaturg and Translator)
Marty Burnett (Scenic Design)
Matt Novotney (Light Design)
Jennifer Brawn Gittings (Costume Design)
Chris Luessmann (Sound Design)
Annie Bornhurst (Props and Set Dressing)
Joan Hurwit (Assistant Dramaturg)
John Finkbiner (Scenic Artist)
The crew includes:
Aaron Rumley* (Stage Manager)
Aaron Rumley (Production Manager)

*Member of Actors' Equity Association

HOW TO BUY TICKETS: Tickets for GHOSTS are available onlyat North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach at 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Suite D, 92075. For ticket information or reservations call (858)-481-1055 or visit www.northcoastrep.org. Box Office hours are Noon to 4pm daily and Noon to Curtain day of shows.

Preview tickets are $32.00, Opening Night tickets are $47, Saturday evening and Sunday Matinee tickets are $41.00 and Wednesday - Friday evening and Saturday Matinees are $37.00. Student/Seniors and Military save $3.00 and Subscriber single tickets are $5.00 off.

SHOWTIMES: Show times are select Wednesdays at 7:00pm and select Saturday matinees at 2:00pm. Regular show times are Thursday - Saturday at 8:00pm and Sundays at 2:00pm and 7:00pm.

LISTING: Written in 1881, GHOSTS is a gripping tale of secrets and lies written as an expose of what Ibsen saw as the sexual hypocrisy of Victorian society. Like many of Ibsen's plays, GHOSTS is a scathing commentary on 19th century morality, yet GHOSTS remains hauntingly modern as it deals with issues and subject matter still relevant in our time. Presented in North Coast Rep's intimate setting, this haunting tale of unrequited passion, revelation and reconciling the truth is sure to be a powerhouse.

About the North Coast Repertory Theatre: North Coast Repertory Theatre is a professional equity theatre founded in 1982. For over 28 years, North Coast Rep has received critical acclaim from media and audiences alike. With the fifth largest operating budget of non profit theatres and employing the third most Actors' Equity Association members (the union of professional actors and stage managers) in San Diego, North Coast Rep continues to produce high quality, award winning theatre and has evolved into one of the area's leading performing arts organizations. Located in Solana Beach, California, NCR not only draws its audience from the North County region but 50% of its audience base resides in metro San Diego and throughout Southern California. Recognized for the quality of its work and its commitment to quality, this season will be performed on the Blakistone Stage, newly dedicated to North Coast Rep founders Olive Blakistone and her recently departed husband Tom, who passed away in March of 2009. 

David Ellenstein is now the Artistic Director and Leader of North Coast Repertory Theatre since 2003. His bio is as follows:

David Ellenstein (Artistic Director) A nationally recognized director and actor, David served as Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Repertory Company and the Arizona Jewish Theatre before joining North Coast Rep in 2003. Over 200 career productions include directing 22 shows at North Coast Rep, including TALLEY'S FOLLY, THE DRESSER, OVER THE TAVERN, HALPERN & JOHNSON, THE CHOSEN, and ROMEO AND JULIET. Elsewhere; SONIA FLEW starring Lucie Arnaz, HALPERN AND JOHNSON starring Hal Linden and Brian Murray, and THE CHOSEN starring Theo Bikel and John Lloyd Young at the Coconut Grove Playhouse. Other venues include the Paper Mill Playhouse, Alabama, California, Nevada, Great Lakes, Southwest, and Kingsmen Shakespeare Festivals, Laguna Playhouse, Meadow Brook Theatre, Arizona Theatre Company, Los Angeles Theatre Center, Portland Repertory Theatre, and Gaslamp Quarter Theatre Company.