Stage West to Open New Studio Space

Stage West has announced the opening of a second performance space. The new Stage West Studio Theatre is located within the space which houses the group's offices and rehearsal hall, at 823 W. Vickery Blvd., and is a three-sided thrust stage, with seating for 61 patrons. The additional performance space will allow Stage West to offer its audiences productions which might not fit into its regular season, and could also be of use in its educational programs.

The first production to be presented in the new Studio Theatre will be David Rintels' Clarence Darrow, starring Stage West founder Jerry Russell. This witty and relevant one-man show, based on Clarence Darrow for the Defense by Irving Stone, provides an enthralling look into the life of a man who was committed to fighting for the rights of the underdog (most famously, of course, in the Scopes "Monkey" trial, and the trial of Leopold and Loeb). It was very popular when Stage West first presented it during the 80s in the intimate space of The Public House, and Russell revived the piece for a limited engagement at TCC South Campus in 2002. Stage West patrons have been asking to see it again, and it seemed like a natural fit for the new Studio space.

Playwright David Rintels was born in 1939 in Boston, and has worked primarily in television. He began his career in the early 1960s, writing episodes for the critically acclaimed CBS courtroom drama series The Defenders. He subsequently wrote episodes for Slattery's People (1964-65), a CBS political drama, and became head writer for the ABC science fiction series The Invaders

(1967-68); later he moved into producing made-for-television movies and miniseries. His work has been honored with two Emmy awards for outstanding writing (Clarence Darrow, 1973, and

Fear On Trial, 1975). His other awards include a Peabody Award in 1970, the Gavel Award from the American Bar Association in 1971, and Writers Guild of America Awards in 1971 and 1975.

Clarence Darrow will play Sunday-Wednesday nights, April 7-24, at 7:15. Tickets are $25 ($20 for season subscribers and seniors 65+, and $15 for students).