THE LANGUAGE ARCHIVE Makes Regional Premiere at Stages Rep, Now thru 3/3

Sally Edmundson directs The Language Archive by award-winning playwright Julia Cho, having its regional premiere at Stages Repertory Theatre in February and March.

Edmundson is the third director in this season's Director's Lab, following Mitchell Greco (Life Could Be A Dream) and Josh Morrison (Wittenberg). She brings together Stages' favorites to the cast: James Belcher (The Unexpected Man),Luisa Amaral-Smith (Four Places), Shelley Calene-Black (Rabbit Hole), and Beth Lazarou (Panto Mother Goose). Actor Rick Silverman makes his Stages' debut as George, a linguist who rediscovers a lost language and sets out to record the last remaining couple who speak it.

Edmundson describes the play as a story exploring the infinite ways we communicate, and our deep need for intimacy. "The Language Archive explores the human dilemma of whether or not it's possible to find someone out there who speaks the same language. The paradox, of course, is: how can we find someone who speaks our language, when we often don't know what that language is? At base, I believe Ms. Cho is talking about deepest intimacy."

About taking on the role of director, Edmundson says, "I've acted professionally almost 35 years, and I'm finally taking the plunge. [I] found in the last several years that I needed a new challenge. I wanted to move to a different plateau." She is a founding member of the Director's Lab, created to nurture directing talent and provide further resources for emerging directors.

Julia Cho is the recipient of the 2009 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, now celebrating its 35^th year. The Language Archive will preview February 6th and 7th, and opens Friday February 8th, running through March 3, 2013. Patrons can purchase tickets ($21 - $45) at the box office, by phone 713.527.0123 or www.stagestheatre.com.

When linguist George re-discovers a language thought to be lost, he attempts to record the aging couple who speak it, only to learn that they plan to spend the rest of their lives arguing-in English. A Susan Smith Blackburn Prize winner, this lyrical, quirky comedy offers a gorgeous look at the power of words and the private languages that love inspires.

The production will run tonight, February 6 - March 3, 2013. Previews: Wednesday February 6^th at 7:30pm and Thursday February 7^th at 7:30pm. Press Opening: Friday February 8^th at 8:00pm. Post show dialogue with artistic team: Sunday February 10, 2013.

The show plays Wednesdays & Thursdays 7:30 PM; Fridays & Saturdays 8:00 PM and Sundays 3:00 PM. All performances take place at Stages Repertory Theatre, 3201 Allen Parkway (one block west of Waugh Dr.) Theatre entrance on Rosine St. (Parking available on D'Amico).

Director Sally Edmundson
Dialect Coach Jim Johnson
Production Stage Manager Natasha Nelson*
Scenic Designer Ryan McGettigan
Properties Designer Jodi Bobrovsky
Lighting Designer Kirk Markley
Sound Designer Tim Thomson
Costume Designer Claremarie Verheyen

*Member of Actor's Equity Association

Tickets start at $21 - $45. Group rates also available (via box office 713.527.0123): Wed-Thu groups of 6+; Fri-Sun group of 10+. Call the box office at 713.527.0123 or visit 3201 Allen Parkway near Waugh Drive. Tickets are also available online at www.stagestheatre.com.

Julia Cho's plays include, The Language Archive, The Piano Teacher, Durango, The Winchester House, BFE, The Architecture of Loss and 99 Histories. She has been a resident playwright at New Dramatists since 2004. Her work has been produced at the Vineyard Theatre, The Public, South Coast Repertory, Long Wharf Theatre, Playwrights Horizons, New York Theatre Workshop, East West Players, Theatre @ Boston Court, and Silk Road Theatre Project, among others. Honors include the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, Barrie Stavis Award, the Claire Tow Award for Emerging Artists, and the L. Arnold Weissberger Award. Durango was also named one of the Top 10 Plays of 2006 by Entertainment Weekly and one of the Best of 2007 by the The L.A. Times. She is an alumna of the Juilliard School and NYU's Graduate Dramatic Writing Program.

Characterized by courage, generosity, ingenuity, and intimacy, Stages Repertory Theatre advances theatre and enlivens culture by producing new work, interpreting established work in new ways, and nurturing talent for the performing arts field. In addition to its MainStage season of plays, Stages introduces young audiences to the power and magic of live theatre through a range of additional education programs. Outreach programs such as the annual Surround encourage conversation about important ideas and issues, provide insight into other cultures and viewpoints, and help develop the next generation of citizens, artists and audiences. Now celebrating its 35th season, Stages is a member of the Fresh Arts Coalition and a constituent of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national service organization for not-for-profit theatres. Stages operates under an agreement with Actor's Equity Association (AEA), the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.

Pictured: Luisa Amaral-Smith, James Belcher. Photo Credit: Bruce Bennett.

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