Laguna Playhouse Presents SHIRLEY VALENTINE, Closes 10/23

The Laguna Playhouse presents Shirley Valentine closing on October 23, 2011. The play is directed by Andrew Barnicle, who most recently directed The Laguna Playhouse's acclaimed production of Private Lives. Shirley Valentine stars Dee Dee Rescher, who has previously performed at The Playhouse in productions such as Red Herring, The Underpants and The Pursuit of Happiness.

Artistic Director, Anne Wareham offers "Shirley Valentine, wonderfully written by Willy Russell, is a deeply moving, funny and completely human play. As Shirley, Dee Dee Rescher, under the guidance of Andrew Barnicle, delivers a tour de force performance; beautiful and profound and endlessly entertaining."

Described as a play filled with gems of wisdom, a good dose of laughter and a lot of poignancy, the story follows a middle-aged Liverpool housewife who finds herself in the rut of her dull daily life and in a loveless relationship with her husband. When her best friend wins a trip for two to Greece, she packs her bags, leaves a note on the kitchen table, and sets out on a journey toward independence and self-discovery.

Shirley Valentine was written by Willy Russell and premiered in 1986 at the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool. The play has won several awards, including the 1988 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Comedy and a 1989 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play. Russell adapted his play for the 1989 film version, directed by Lewis Gilbert and starring Pauline Collins.

Tickets to Shirley Valentine are $30 to $65. For more information, call 949-497-2787 or visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com.