Unicorn Theatre Presents DISTRACTED, Previews 11/23

Unicorn Theatre and UMKC Theatre partner again, this time to produce Lisa Loomer's new comedy play about raising a child in an overstimulated world, Distracted. This partnership, now in the third season, has great impact for both organizations. Graduate students pursuing their MFA in performance or design work right along professional actors, designer and directors to hone their crafts in a practical format. The Unicorn gains access to talented, young artists before they even start out their careers. Many students who have worked here as students, have since been hired back as professionals when they graduate.

Directed by Cynthia Levin, Distracted features Katie Gilchrist, Rusty Sneary, Andi Meyer, Rachel Hirshorn, Dina Kirschenbaum, Mark Thomas, Amy Urbina, Molliann McCulley and Zackary Hoar.

Distracted will plays on the Unicorn's Mainstage located at 3828 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111. Previews are Novmber 23rd, 24th and 26th. The play runs November 27th through December 12th. Performances Tuesday through Thursday are at 7:30 pm, Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm and Sunday at 3:00 pm. Join us for a talk back immediately after the show with the director, actors and child development experts from Horizon Academy on November 20th, December 5th and 7th.

To purchase tickets, call 816-531-PLAY (7529) EXT. 10, online at www.UnicornTheatre.org or in person at the box office located at 3828 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111. Regular run tickets start at just $27.50. Preview tickets start at just $22.50. Special discounts are available for seniors (60+), Students and Patrons Under 30.

About The Show

Are we so tuned in to our info-rich world that we've tuned out the things that really matter? Jesse is nine and easily distracted, but so are his parents, neighbors-even the doctors. Is Jesse's Attention Deficit Disorder caused by over-stimulation, bad parenting, chemicals in food, or is he just a kid in an ADD world? It's a fast-paced, comic look at parenting in the Internet age.

Lisa Loomer's most recent play, Distracted, had its world premiere at the Mark Taper Forum and was subsequently produced at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. The play was produced in spring 2009 at the Roundabout Theatre Company in New York in a production starring Cynthia Nixon, and has subsequently been produced in theatres throughout the U.S. Living Out had its world premiere at the Mark Taper Forum, was produced at Second Stage in New York in 2003, and was produced in regional theaters throughout the country and in Israel and Mexico. Her play The Waiting Room went from Williamstown Theater Festival to the Mark Taper Forum to highly successful productions at Arena Stage and Trinity Rep, and then on to the Vineyard Theatre in New York and Unicorn Theatre in 1998. Her play Expecting Isabel had its world premiere at Arena Stage and its west coast premiere at the Taper. Bocon!, a political fable for young audiences, began at the Taper and has been seen throughout the country, from the Kennedy Center, to Seattle's Group Theater, Stage Left in Chicago and the La Jolla Playhouse, as well as in Germany, Alaska, and Mexico. Other theaters that have produced her work include Unicorn Theatre, Seattle Rep, Missouri Rep, Theatreworks, and theaters in Israel, Mexico, and Egypt.

The cast of Distracted is Katie Gilchrist as Mama (previously at the Unicorn: Lobby Hero, Painted Alice, Rabbit Hole, Bug and Bright Ideas), Rusty Sneary as Dad (previously at the Unicorn: The Pillowman, Frozen and Take Me Out), Andi Meyer as Mrs. Holly/Dr. Waller/Nurse (recently at the Unicorn: Bright Ideas, In the Blood, 9 Parts of Desire, An American Daughter, The Waiting Room and Suburbia), Rachel Hirshorn as Sherry (Unicorn debut),. Dina Kirschenbaum as Dr. Zavala/Carolyn/Waitress (previously at the Unicorn: Miss Witherspoon; UMKC Graduate Student), Mark Thomas as Dr. Broder/Allergist/Dr. Jinks/Dr. Karnes/Actor with ADD (previously at the Unicorn: Farragut North; UMKC Graduate Student), Amy Urbina as Vera (previously at the Unicorn: Miss Witherspoon; UMKC Graduate Student), Molliann McCulley as Natalie (Unicorn Debut) and Zackary Hoar as Jesse (Unicorn debut).

Director Cynthia Levin is in her 32nd season with the Unicorn, most of which she has worked as Producing Artistic Director. At the Unicorn she has most recently directed the world premiere of Green Whales, Miss Witherspoon, My First Time, The Clean House, Mauritius and 9 Parts of Desire. Later this season Cynthia will direct Two Jews Walk Into A War...

The creative team also includes Tabitha Pease for scenic design (previously at the Unicorn: Green Whales), SeifAlla Cristobal for lighting design (previously at the Unicorn: [title of show] and Miss Witherspoon; UMKC Graduate Student), Richard Sprecker for projections design (Unicorn debut; UMKC Graduate Student), Tim Munger for sound design (Unicorn debut; UMKC Graduate Student), Allison Dillard for costume design (Unicorn debut; UMKC Graduate Student), Liz Spray for properties design (Unicorn debut; UMKC Graduate Student), Amanda Boyle as dramaturg (Unicorn debut; UMKC Graduate Student) and Jinni Pike as Stage Manager (recently at the Unicorn: [title of show], And Her Hair Went With Her..., Grey Gardens, Miss Witherspoon, My First Time and bare).