2017-Nominated IRNE Jim Dalglish Premieres LINES IN THE SAND

Cotuit Center for the Arts is proud to announce the world premiere of "Lines in the Sand." Written and directed by Jim Dalglish, this suspenseful and hard-hitting contemporary drama tells the story of a bullied high school boy and the man who saves him. The play runs March 9 to 26, 2017 in the Black Box Theater. Performances are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30 PM and Sunday at 2 PM.

"It gets better." That's what the high school teachers, coaches, and counselors tell 15-year-old Billy. He knows that's not true, and so does Tom, the man who rescues him from a gang of violent high school seniors. Tom seems like the kind of guy Billy needs in his life, but can Billy trust where the older man is about to take him?

International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival

CCftA is also proud to announce that its world-premiere production of "Lines in the Sand" has been accepted as an official play in this year's International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival. The festival, which chooses its schedule from an open call of scripts submitted by theatres from around the world, runs from May 1 - 14, 2017. More information about the IDGTF: http://www.gaytheatre.ie/

About the Play

This suspenseful 90-minute drama explores the relationship an at-risk adolescent boy forms with the only person who seems to give a damn about him - an ex-con recently released from prison. The story takes audiences on a riveting roller-coaster ride in which many of their notions of masculinity, religious faith, law and order, and sexuality may be challenged. The ride climaxes with a shocking revelation that pushes the boy - and the audience - to confront their own capacity for forgiveness and its necessity for redemption.

Dalglish, the author of "Unsafe" and "Bark Park," both recently presented to critical acclaim at CCftA, explains his motivation for writing the play: "I began writing this play as a response to the bullying many of our LGBT youth face. Bullying that too often ends in suicide. The outrage I felt against our society that would passively allow these tragedies to occur daily was the clarion call that inspired my writing. But after the recent turn of events in our government, I feel that the play transcends the characters and their situations. Bullying, the toxic effects of macho posturing, and the violence they inspire is playing out on an international scale right now. And we must as a culture understand our role in fostering this poisonous environment."

"'Lines in the Sand' is not an easy play," said Dalglish, "I didn't want to write an easy play. I wanted to write a play that would take people to places they were unprepared to go, to coax them to empathize with people they may not normally feel any sympathy, to re-evaluate their preconceived notions of crime, rehabilitation, faith, and forgiveness. I wrote the play to change people's lives."

"Lines in the Sand" examines some complicated issues regarding the criminal justice system. In his research for the play, he interviewed ex-cons, murderers, and rapists about their experiences in prison and their reintegration into society after incarceration.

"I also wanted to explore different ideas about masculinity and that primal masculine energy that has to be controlled," Dalglish said. "Typically, masculine energy is very self-centered, devoid of empathy. How do we raise our boys to have empathy? We have to figure out how to do this, especially now."

The concepts of redemption and forgiveness also run through the play. "These are questions with no easy answers," said Dalglish. "It is a deliberately provocative play. Some of it is also autobiographical, but I am not providing details and I ask that reviewers not reveal the many plot turns in the play."

Actors, Designers, and Creative Team

Tony Travostino is an accomplished actor who lives in New York City. Tony Travostino has appeared in two other plays by Dalglish at CCftA. He played Nathaniel in "Unsafe" and Truman, a German shepherd, in "Bark Park: life at both ends of the lead." "I wrote the role of Tom with Tony in mind and he has been instrumental in my exploration of this character and the themes of the play," said Dalglish. "He is so committed to the role, he has signed up to visit a state penitentiary to get a feel for what it would be like to serve out a twelve-year sentence."

Nick Bucchianeri plays the role of Billy. A 16-year-old student at Sturgis Public Charter School in Hyannis, Nick has a strong interest in acting. "Nick was excellent as a Wild Boy in my play "Unsafe." At 16, I can't believe how intelligent and well-grounded he is," said Dalglish. "The trick for Nick will be to explore some of the traumatic things Billy experiences in the play that Nick has fortunately never had to face."

Sam Holmstock, a percussion group leader at CCftA and former member of the world fusion band Entrain, Sam has composed entr'acte music for the play. "The music is very percussive, kind of frightening, almost primal, and very masculine," said Dalglish. "Sam's personal commitment for using his talents and creating drumming programs that help at-risk youth and veterans is truly inspirational."

Jackie Reeves will be creating the art for Billy's sketch book. Reeves, a well-known artist on the international scene is also a faculty member at CCftA. The images she creates will be projected as white-line negatives on the back wall of the Black Box Theater. "It's all about negative space; looking between the lines at what isn't actually there in reality," said Dalglish. "I'm thrilled that an artist of Jackie's caliber has decided to come along for the ride."

Jim Dalglish is the author of more than 25 plays, including shorts, one-acts, and full-length plays which have been produced across the U.S. and in Great Britain and Ireland. Many have won awards, and two have been included in anthologies. He is a member of Interim Writers, a playwright lab in Boston, and Boston Public Works, a writers' collaborative. He holds a masters degree from Brown University. More about Jim: http://jimdalglish.com

Ian Ryan is the associate director for the play. An accomplished actor and director, Ian has appeared in roles produced at Cape Rep and has directed two critically acclaimed CCftA productions: "The Center of Gravity" and "Sordid Lives." "Ian originated the eponymous role of Truman and I have tried like hell to work with him again ever since," said Dalglish. "He brings a natural authenticity to every role he takes on and he inspires greatness in the actors he works with. I'm thrilled he will be joining me in directly this intense two-hander."

Tickets are $18, $15 for members. Cotuit Center for the Arts is at 4404 Route 28 in Cotuit. For more information, and to purchase tickets, visit artsonthecape.org or call 508-428-0669.