BRILLIANT TRACES Opens at OpenStage Theatre, 9/10-10/10

While a blizzard rages outside, a man lies sleeping in his remote cabin in the wilds of Alaska. With a bang, a disheveled and bewildered young woman dressed in full bridal regalia bursts through the door. Thus begins OpenStage Theatre's production of Cindy Lou Johnson's witty play, Brilliant Traces, which opens Sept. 10 and runs through Oct. 10 at Nonesuch Theater in Fort Collins. By turns hilarious and ecstatic, Brilliant Traces tells a heartwarming story of love, loss and the unlikely places we find sanctuary.

      "While the play has qualities of otherworldliness, I have grounded it in reality," said OpenStage Theatre Director Brooke Flanagan. "The absurdity of The Situation has definite comedic elements, but the play is not strictly a comedy. It doesn't have what you would call a traditional Hollywood ending."

      Performed without intermission, Brilliant Traces uses the claustrophobia of a single room and the taut discomfort of two strangers forced into each others lives to reveal how the scars of love, or "brilliant traces," run deeper than most imagine. Rosannah DeLuce, a runaway bride, and Henry Harry, a secretive recluse, play a cat-and-mouse game as they walk the line between small talk and honest revelation. Laced with intricate metaphors and powerhouse monologues, Johnson's 1989 script relies on an uneasy bond and occasional humor to build tension and familiarity.    

      Despite a sparse set and minimal casting, every object and word holds multiple meanings. Rosannah's satin bridal shoes become an unlikely source of conflict and catharsis. Henry's quiet, seemingly peaceful world plays counterpoint to Rosannah's manic musings and unpredictable life philosophy.   

      The play provides a welcome challenge for OpenStage actors Andrew Horsford and Julie K. Wolf. "What we have created is a play with two people who are each other's savior and worst nightmare," Flanagan said. "They hold the keys for healing and despair. They are soul mates of a sort."

      Performances of Brilliant Traces are at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights from Sept. 10 to Oct. 10, with Sunday matinées at 2 p.m. on Sept. 19, Sept. 26, Oct. 3 and Oct. 10.

      Performances are at the Nonesuch, 216 Pine St. in Fort Collins.

Tickets are available from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays, through the Lincoln Center box office at 970-221-6730 and online at www.LCTIX.com.

Individual tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for seniors and students and groups of 10 or more. Matinee tickets are $15 per person. As each individual performance starts to sell out, prices will increase, so it is recommended that patrons purchase their tickets early.

Tickets for FAB Friday, sponsored by Boulder Beer, on Sept. 17 are $12 and include a free beer at intermission.

A special discount price of $15 is available to Nonesuch Theater's My First Time with a ticket stub from Brilliant Traces.

There is an additional "Pay-What-You-Can" performance on Thursday, Sept. 16 at 7:30 p.m. Admission to "Pay-What-You-Can" will be by donation at the door.

PlayClub on Sunday, Sept. 26 will include a post-show discussion facilitated by Wolverine Farm Publishing's Matter Bookstore. Interested individuals can purchase scripts of Brilliant Traces through Matter Bookstore, 144 N. College Ave.

Childcare is available for the Friday performances on Sept. 17 and Oct. 3 through Young People's Learning Center,  209 E. Plum St. Call Young People's Learning Center at 970-482-1212 for childcare reservations.

A free performance for students and educators, funded by The Thornton Family Foundation, will be presented on Thursday, Sept. 9, at 7:30 p.m. To make reservations for the student/educator performance, contact OpenStage Theatre at 970-484-5237.

A play guide containing information on the play and the playwright is available online at www.openstage.com. Click on the Brilliant Traces button on the home page and then select the Play Guide icon at the top of the show page.

Audiences are invited to meet the cast of Brilliant Traces following each performance.

Major funding for Brilliant Traces is provided by Scene Magazine. OpenStage Theatre's 38^th anniversary season is sponsored by A-Train Marketing Communications, Shaw and Associates, ArtBeet Fort Collins and Witt Gross of Coldwell Banker. Support is also provided by grants from Fort Collins Downtown Development Authority, Colorado Creative Industries, the National Endowment for the Arts and the City of Fort Collins Fort Fund.

For more information, visit OpenStage's website at www.openstage.com or call 970-484-5237. Founded in 1973, OpenStage Theatre is a recipient of the Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts and a member of Theatre Communications Group, the national organization for not-for-profit professional theatres.

A not-for-profit organization, OpenStage Theatre relies heavily on the support of sponsors and patrons who help make each season a success. With assistance from corporations, foundations and the general public, OpenStage has been able to maintain high quality productions for 37 years. For information on sponsorship and charitable gifts and on how you can support OpenStage Theatre, please call 970-484-5237.

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