Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company Presents New Play GOING TO A PLACE WHERE YOU ALREADY ARE

The work of one of America's brightest young talents comes to town when Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company (BETC) presents one of the country's first productions of Going to a Place Where You Already Are by Bekah Brunstetter, directed by Rebecca Remaly.

A playwright on the rise, Brunstetter's work has been produced at some of the nation's most prominent regional companies including South Coast Repertory and Roundabout Theatre. In addition to being an award-winning playwright, she is a successful television writer, most recently as a writer and co-producer of NBC's This Is Us, one of the most popular shows currently on television. Brunstetter has also written for MTV, ABC, and Starz.

Going to a Place centers around an elderly couple facing a sudden end-of-life crisis. Joe says no to the afterlife, but Roberta is starting to wonder. Their granddaughter Ellie can barely survive without her iPhone, but suddenly finds herself making personal connections she never expected. In this nuanced and deftly funny story, two generations wrestle with love and a life well lived as they wonder about what might come next.

"Having been raised with a pretty straight forward Christian view of heaven, I wanted to write Going to a Place to clarify for myself my views of it, and to really confront what I believe, or rather, what I can't seem to stop believing," said Brunstetter. "I also saw it as a good excuse to connect with my Dad's parents, to ask them the questions that you usually don't think to ask until after they're gone."

"When I first started writing the play, they were vibrant and healthy and alive," Brunstetter continued. "By the time I finished (a year later) they were both gone. So for me, the play is now a conversation with them that I was fortunate enough to have before they left. I hope it gives comfort to anyone who's lost someone, who's still on earth, wondering where that person went."

Stephen Weitz, BETC's Producing Artistic Director, said, "I absolutely adore this play. Bekah has a unique voice in contemporary theatre and she is really tackling issues in our culture that are so relevant and important. Best of all, she does it in ways that are profoundly human, giving real voice to real people with doubts and questions. She's exploring what matters most without being preachy or one-sided."

Going to a Place is BETC's fifth and final show of Season 12, and further solidifies its commitment to bringing the best contemporary plays to a local audience. Talkbacks with the cast will be featured after most performances and a Skype conversation with the playwright will take place following the performance on April 26.

BETC will also host two other special events:

On April 7, BETC will present "Tea and Tech" as a part of Boulder Arts Week. This event will offer participants the chance to watch part of technical rehearsal for Going to a Place to get a sense of how a production comes together before opening. After a period of observation, they will be able to meet artists working on the show over tea. "Tea and Tech" is free and open to the public and will take place from 2:00-3:30pm on April 7th at the Dairy Arts Center.

Following the matinee performance on April 22, BETC will welcome local religious leaders and religious studies professors for a post show discussion. They will discuss how humans have addressed uncertainties around death and the afterlife through religious practices in varied faith traditions. These experts will also speak about their experience with difficult conversations between believers and non-believers, and between people of various faiths.

For more information on the show and to purchase tickets visit: http://betc.org/event/going/.

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