Horizon Theatre's THE BOOK CLUB PLAY to Return Jan 17

Back by popular demand, book clubs take the spotlight in the New Year with the return of The Book Club Play by Karen Zacari?as at Horizon Theatre. The show follows a tight-knit book club bound for pandemonium when it becomes the focus of a documentary film. The Book Club Play runs January 17 - February 23, 2014.

Performances are Wednesday through Friday at 8 PM, Saturday at 3 PM and 8:30 PM, and Sunday at 5 PM. Tickets are $25-$45. Tickets and information are available at horizontheatre.com or 404.584.7450.

"Our audience's response to the play this past summer was overwhelming - we sold-out the whole run, and the production was nominated for a Suzi Award for Best Ensemble. We're thrilled to be bringing it back to warm up the winter with laughter at Horizon," says Horizon's Co-Artistic/Producing Director, Lisa Adler. "If you've ever been in a book club (or know people who are) you'll love laughing with this quirky group of long-time friends as everything goes haywire. This is the kind of smart romp that has become Horizon's trademark, and we're again unleashing an ensemble of Atlanta's most talented comic actors on our stage."

The Story: Ana lives in a letter-perfect world with an adoring husband, the perfect job, and her greatest passion: Book Club. But when her cherished circle becomes the focus of a documentary film, their intimate discussions about life and literature take a turn for the hilarious in front of the inescapable camera lens. Add a provocative new member along with some surprising new books titles, and these six friends are bound for pandemonium. Will their beloved book club survive? Sprinkled with wit, joy, and novels galore, laughter meets literature in this delightful new comedy about books, the people who love them, and the side-splitting results when friends start reading between the lines.

Horizon Co-Artistic Director Jeff Adler returns to lead the creative team as director of The Book Club Play. This ensemble-driven comedy, nominated for a Suzi Award for Best Ensemble in its Atlanta premiere, follows up on Adler's other recent successes such as The Waffle Palace, Superior Donuts, and Shooting Star. He has directed numerous Horizon productions, beginning with Horizon's first production Bonjour, la, Bonjour in 1983. Other notable credits include Shooting Star, Altar Boyz, Madame Melville, The Lonesome West, Racing Demon, Mere Mortals, and All in the Timing. "The Book Club Play is more than a story about people who love books," comments Adler. "It is about the value of connecting with a small group and how a shared experience like reading a book can lead to self-discovery, personal transformation, and life-long friends."

Playwright Karen Zacari?as is a rising star in American theatre, and Horizon welcomes her fresh, witty voice to Atlanta. Currently the playwright-in-residence at Arena Stage in Washington DC, Zacari?as has written several award-winning plays, including the adaptation of Julia Alvarez's How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents and Mariela in the Desert, and has commissions in the works for the Washington Ballet, Denver Theater Center, Cincinnati Playhouse, and Oregon Shakespeare Theater. Originally from Atlanta, her Theatre for Young Audiences musicals with composer Debbie Wicks la Puma Einstein is a Dummy and Ferdinand the Bull have delighted young audiences at the Alliance Children's Theatre. Her plays have also been produced at The Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, The Goodman, Round House Theater, The Denver Center, South Coast Rep, La Jolla Playhouse, Cleveland Playhouse, San Jose Rep, and more. Her awards include 2010 Steinberg Citation-Best New Play, National Francesca Primus Prize, New Voices Award, National Latino Play Award, Finalist Susan Smith Blackburn, and Helen Hayes for Outstanding New Play.

"The Book Club Play's wit is razor sharp with wry observations on sexuality, ego, race, class, the rise of online reading, literary license, and whether there can be hidden value in reading "popular" literature," says Woman Around Town.

CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM:

An outstanding ensemble cast of Atlanta favorites is led by Wendy Melkonian, acclaimed for her performance in Becky's New Car at Georgia Ensemble Theatre. She returns as Type A book club organizer and local newspaper columnist Ana. Bryan Brendle reunites with the cast as Ana's handsome husband Rob who loves the wine and food, but can't quite make it through the books. Maria Rodriguez- Sager is Jen, the down-to-earth heart of the club. Jen's best friend and other long-time club member is Will, a well-dressed historian played by John Benzinger. The book club's newest member is Ana's young, hip prote?ge?, Lily, played by Danielle Deadwyler, seen at Horizon in Shakin' the Mess Outta Misery, and rounding out the club is meeting-crasher Alex, played by long-time Dad's Garage improviser Dan Triandiflou.

Suzi-Award winning set designers Moriah and Isabel Curley-Clay (Time Stands Still, The Waffle Palace, Avenue Q) again create a chic, in-town bungalow, Ana's home where the book club holds its meetings. Resident lighting designer Mary Parker (Time Stands Still, The Waffle Palace, Avenue Q) and sound designer Thom Jenkins are back again as part of the creative team. Costume designer Abby Parker (Horizon's The Santaland Diaries, Synchronicity's Petite Rouge), props designer Christa Seekatz, and projection designer Jon Summers (Theatrical Outfit's Fly) round out the stellar design team.

The Book Club Play is the perfect outing for your book club or group of friends! Don't miss this entertaining comedy about the joys of reading and friendship. Group discounts are available for parties of 10 or more. Horizon has a lounge space available for rental for pre-show gatherings. Contact Group Sales Manager Tim Harland at 404.523.1477 x111 or e-mail groups@horizontheatre.com for more information.

General admission tickets for The Book Club Play are $25-$30. Upgrade to the VIP experience, which includes reserved seating and a specialty beverage for an additional $15 per ticket. Tickets may be ordered by phone at 404.584.7450 or online at www.horizontheatre.com. The show runs January 17 - February 23, 2014. Performances are Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 8 PM; Saturday at 3 PM and 8:30 PM; and Sunday at 5 PM. Ticket prices are subject to change. Eight percent sales tax will be added to all ticket orders. Internet convenience fee added to all online orders. No refunds, exchanges, or late seating.

Horizon Theatre Company (1083 Austin Avenue) connects people, inspires hope and promotes positive change the stories of our times. We produce professional area and world premieres of smart, funny, and provocative contemporary plays.