Silver Spring Stage's 'Based on a Totally True Story,' Closes Today, 10/8

Silver Spring Stage presents Based on a Totally True Story by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, directed by Sam Nystrom and produced by Lennie Magida, the offbeat hilarious, bittersweet romantic comedy of a twenty-something New Yorker with the opportunity to have one of his plays made into a movie. It's a quirky love letter to dreams, relationships and learning life lessons. Based on a Totally True Story the play ends its run today, 10/8.

Silver Spring Stage is located in the Woodmoor Shopping Center, lower level (next to the CVS) at Colesville Road and University Boulevard. Ticket prices are $20 for adults and $18 for seniors/students. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8:00 PM and Sundays September 25 and October 2 at 2:00 PM. Tickets can be purchased at www.ssstage.org. Information is also available by calling (301) 593-6036.

Based on a Totally True Story captures perfectly the world of a writer and the all consuming vortex that writing has on a personal life. Robert Aguirre-Sacasa knows as the play is inspired from his own life. The main character Ethan writes comic books by day and plays by night as does Aguirre-Sacasa. From his childhood, born and raised in Washington, DC where he also attended Georgetown University and got his first break at Arena Stage at a playwriting workshop, Aguirre-Sacasa fell in love with comic books. He said, "I would say I was probably a comic-book geek before I knew anything about being gay or straight." Among the Marvel Comics he has written have been Fantastic Four and Spiderman, which led to his recent script revision for the Spiderman musical. In Based on a Totally True Story, with humor and honesty, Aguirre-Sacasa shows a young man struggling with his writing, the demands of a Hollywood producer, new love with a boyfriend, his family's emotional problems and sharing his feelings for the people in his life. Yet, these themes do not weigh down the play. With breezy scenes like panels of the Flash comic book for which Ethan writes, the play entertains and engages with wit about New York and Hollywood, truth about what children inherit from their parents and how we learn to express ourselves creatively and personally. This is totally a true story for all.

Ethan Keene (Jonathan Feuer), a semi-successful comic book writer by day (he writes The Flash for DC Comics) and struggling playwright by night, has his world turned upside down when Mary Ellen (Irene Molnar), a veteran Hollywood producer, decides she wants to turn one of Ethan's unproduced plays into a big-budget horror movie. With Hollywood beckoning, Ethan struggles to be a loving, supportive partner to his boyfriend Michael Sullivan (Cody Gabbard), a Village Voice reporter and budding novelist. To add to his juggling, Ethan's dad (Ted Culler) announces that he's leaving Ethan's mom for a married woman. Along the way of Ethan's journey, we meet his boss Tyler, an Apple store salesman, a video store clerk and a L.A. actor (all played by John Wright). Audiences will laugh and love this lesson that the playwright has learned so well.

The production team includes ElizaBeth Angelo and David Jung (Stage Managers), Eric Henry (Set Design), Bruce Hirsch (Sound Design), Bill Strein (Light Design), Kristin Visaggio (Props/Set Dressing), and Irene Molnar (Costumes).

Silver Spring Stage continues its 2011-2012 season with the funny crazy The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Oct. 28-Nov. 19), family holiday favorite A Christmas Carol (Dec. 9-Dec. 18), imaginative comedy Dead Man's Cellphone (Jan. 13-Feb. 4), thrilling mystery Hapgood (Feb. 24-Mar. 16), frothy delight Enchanted April (Apr. 13-May 5), shocking tragedy The Beauty Queen of Leenane (May 18-June 9), and compelling drama Stop Kiss (June 29-July 21).

Silver Spring Stage has provided quality, affordable theatre for over 40 years. We are an all-volunteer, non- profit organization and appreciate any contribution to enable us to offer excellent and entertaining productions. Thank you for your interest and support of Silver Spring Stage. All programs at Silver Spring Stage are made possible in part by grants from the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County and the Maryland State Arts Council.