TAMER OF HORSES to Open 2/14 at Aurora Theatre

Aurora Theatre's 2013-2014 Harvel Lab Series continues with William Mastrosimone's Tamer of Horses running February 14 - March 2, 2014. Teen violence, education and the realization of one's own potential all take center stage in this poignant drama. Hector St. Vincent, a juvenile rapper on the run, takes up residence in an old barn owned by Ty & Georgiane Fletcher. A former teacher, Ty attempts to inspire and educate the teenager through an examination of Homer's The Iliad. But will he be rewarded for taking a chance on this troubled youth? The play features Aurora Theatre Producing Artistic Director Anthony P. Rodriguez and Maria Sager (The Book Club Play - Horizon Thaetre, Barrio Hollywood - Aurora Theatre) as the Fletchers and 2014 Aurora Apprentice Company member Dane Troy as Hector. The show will be performed in Aurora's intimate 86-seat Peach State Federal Credit Union Studio. The production reunites the creative duo from last season's hit "Master Harold"...and the Boys with Jaclyn Hofmann directing and scenic design by Suzi Award-Winner Lee Maples.

William Mastrosimone is an American playwright and screenwriter from Trenton, New Jersey who received a graduate degree in playwriting from Mason Gross School of the Arts, a part of Rutgers University. He is best known for his play Extremities which opened off-Broadway with Susan Sarandon in the leading role of Marjorie and later helped to establish Farrah Fawcett as a serious actress as she took over the role on stage and in the film. His other plays include The Woolgatherer, Shivaree, Cat's Paw, A Stone Carver, The Afghan Women and Nanawatai, upon which the film The Beast is based. His screenwriting credits include Into the West and the adaptation of his play Extremities. He won a Daytime Emmy Award for Bang, Bang You're Dead and was nominated for a Prime Time Emmy for Into the West and The Burning Season.

Aurora Theatre Producing Artistic Director Anthony Rodriguez, "When our Education Director, Jaclyn Hofmann had our 2012-2013 Apprentice Company read this play as an acting exercise -- I was moved. I not only knew that we had to produce it, I needed to personally be involved in the production. Anyone who has even needed or been granted a second chance in life should not miss this amazing play."

Programming in Aurora Theatre's 2013-2014 Harvel Lab Series is possible through generous support from Georgia Gwinnett College and the Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund.

Photo by Chris Bartleski