South Coast Repertory to Premiere FIVE MILE LAKE, 4/13-5/4

In small towns there are those who stay and those who go. With the return of a sibling, the daily routine of life is shaken up in South Coast Repertory's world premiere of Five Mile Lake by Rachel Bonds. Bonds' new drama is one of three full productions for the 2014 Pacific Playwrights Festival. The show runs April 13-May 4, on the Julianne Argyros Stage. Daniella Topol directs. Tickets are available online: www.scr.org.

The story follows Jamie, who lives peacefully in a small Pennsylvania town, passionately fixing up his grandfather's old lake house and pining after his troubled coworker Mary. His simple life is interrupted by an unexpected visit from his brother, Rufus, and girlfriend, Peta; a visit that causes all of them to examine the choices they've made and where their lives are headed.

Rising playwright Rachel Bonds has been creating a buzz on the East Coast with her work.

"She's beginning to make some noise in New York theatre, but this will be her first major production outside of New York," said Associate Artistic Director John Glore. "We're pleased to introduce her work to our audience. Rachel has a wonderful ear for contemporary dialogue and a keen eye for the details and nuances of character. Her plays are suffused with yearning, and they often have an understated sense of mystery--an almost haunted quality."

Launched in 1998, South Coast Repertory's annual Pacific Playwrights Festival (PPF) has become a major national showcase for new plays. PPF is a three-day festival that features new play readings and world premiere full productions. It serves as a forum for theatre professionals and theatre-goers alike who aid in the development of new American works. Previous festivals have included award-winning plays such as Amy Freed's The Beard of Avon, Lynn Nottage's Intimate Apparel and David Lindsay-Abaire's Pulitzer Prize-winning Rabbit Hole.

The cast for Five Mile Lake includes Corey Brill, Nate Mooney, Rebecca Mozo, Nicole Shalhoub and Brian Slaten.

The design and creative team includes Marion Williams, scenic design; David Kay Mickelsen, costume design; Lap Chi Chu, lighting design; Vincent Olivieri, composer/sound design; John Glore, dramaturg; Joshua Marchesi, production manager; and Jennifer Ellen Butler, stage manager.

Five Mile Lake is generously supported in part by Honorary Producers Mary Ann Brown and Rick Reiff, Tracy and Roger Kirwan, Sarah and Thom McElroy, Carl and Patricia Neisser, Nancy and Robert Palmer, Barbara Roberts, Linda and Tod White.

Tickets start at $22. Discounts are available for full-time students, patrons 25 years of age and under, fulltime educators, seniors and groups of 10 or more. For complete information, visit: www.scr.org.

Tickets: May be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or by visiting the box office at 655 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa. Performances run April 13-May 4. Ticket prices start at $22. Low-priced preview performances run April 13- 17.