Actors Co-op to Present Brian Friel's DANCING AT LUGHNASA This May

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2014 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for 110 in the Shade) presents the fourth and final show in its 2015-2016 season (and 24th year of producing theatrical excellence in Los Angeles!) with DANCING AT LUGHNASA, by Brian Friel, choreography by Julie Hall and directed by Heather Chesley.

DANCING AT LUGHNASA will preview on Wednesday, May 4 and Thursday, May 5 at 8pm and will open on Friday, May 6 at 8pm and run through Sunday, June 12 at the Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

Winner of the 1992 Tony Award for Best Play, this is master playwright Brian Friel's best! Set in a small village in 1936 Ireland, five unmarried sisters share a small home and dreams of life beyond their native land. A radio dramatically changes their lives and sets in motion unforeseen changes.

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM AND CAST:

BRIAN FRIEL (Playwright) was born in Northern Ireland in 1929 and was educated at St. Patrick's College and St. Mary's Training College and later taught in Ireland. As a playwright, he explored political and social life throughout Ireland and Northern Ireland through family units, communication, human needs and the relationship between history, story and nationality. Having lived on both sides of the Irish border, he was particularly interested in the idea of dualism: divided loyalties or the island's two political states. He became a full-time writer of short stories, radio and stage plays in 1960 after The New Yorker began regular publications of his stories. His first hit play, Philadelphia Here I Come! appeared in Dublin and subsequently in New York and London and was nominated for a Tony for best play. Dancing At Lughnasa was written in 1990 and is perhaps his best known work, debuting at Dublin's Abbey Theatre before moving to London and Broadway. It received both a Laurence Olivier Award (1991) and a Tony (1992). Over his lifetime, he penned over 24 plays and numerous articles in addition to adapted works of other playwrights such as Anton Chekov to whom he was often compared. He passed away in October of last year at the age of 86.

HEATHER CHESLEY (Director) directed Thornton Wilder's The Matchmaker and Moliere's The Learned Ladies on the Actors Co-op mainstage. She also directed the Co-op Too! new musical Trails. A member of Actors Co-op since 2004, she has returned as the Artistic Committee Chairperson this year. She produced new musical Makin' Hay as well as Merrily We Roll Along and has performed in several Co-op plays (Rabbit Hole, Yours Isabel, King Lear). Heather co-directed Company We Keep for the Minnesota Fringe Festival. She directed the west coast premiere of Aline Brosh McKenna's Inside Lois and served as the Assistant Artistic Director for The Hampstead Players Theater Company. Training: BFA Acting, Emerson College.

JULIE HALL (Choreographer) is honored to again be working with director Heather Chesley and Actors Co-op, having previously choreographed its productions of The Baker's Wife, The Mystery Of Edwin Drood (Ovation Award Nominee, Best Musical - Intimate Venue), 110 In The Shade (Ovation Award Winner, Best Musical - Intimate Venue), The Matchmaker, The Learned Ladies, The 1940's Radio Hour, Big River, Trails, Leading Ladies, Freddy Wyatt Christmas Spectacular and Yours, Isabel. A graduate of the Florida State University School of Music, Julie also enjoys sharing her love of musical theater with the next generation of performers by teaching at various schools and theater camps throughout the country.

The cast of DANCING AT LUGHNASA will feature (in alphabetical order): Mark Bramhall, Tannis Hanson, Michael J. Knowles, Nan McNamara, Rory Patterson, Maurie Speed, Lauren Thompson and Stephen Van Dorn.

DANCING AT LUGHNASA has assembled an award-winning design team. Set Design is by Michael Kramer. Lighting Design is by Bill E. Kickbush. Costume Design is by Wendell C. Carmichael. Hair and Make-up Design is by Krys Fehervari. Property Design is by Lori Berg. Dialect Coach is Adam Michael Rose. The Stage Manager is Tintin Nguyen. DANCING AT LUGHNASA is produced by Thomas Chavira.

DANCING AT LUGHNASA will preview on Wednesday, May 4 and Thursday, May 5 at 8pm and will open on Friday, May 6 at 8pm and run through Sunday, June 12 at the Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood. Performances are Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00pm and Sundays at 2:30pm (with Saturday Matinees scheduled for Saturday, May 14 and June 11 at 2:30pm).

Ticket prices are $30.00 for all Performances. Seniors (60 and over) - $25 and Students - $20.00 - with Student Rush Tickets available at Friday performances (excluding opening nights) on a first-come, first-served basis subject to availability. Rush tickets are priced at 1/2 off regular adult tickets price. Tickets may only be purchased 45 minutes prior to curtain at the box office window. Valid Student ID must be shown. One ticket per ID. Cash only, please. To learn more about Student Rush Tickets, call the box office at (323) 462-8460. Previews are Free to the Public. Group rates are available for parties of 6 or more. Tickets may be purchased by phone at (323) 462-8460 or visit www.ActorsCo-op.org.

Actors Co-op operates two 99-seat Equity-approved theatres on the campus of First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood. Actors Co-op began in 1987 with a dozen actors. Currently, its membership exceeds 50 professionals. Called "a 99-seat miracle" by Daily Variety, Actors Co-op's numerous awards for theatre excellence include the Los Angeles Drama Critics Polly Warfield Award for "Outstanding Season" (2013) in a small to mid-sized theatre, six Ovation Award nominations including "Best Season" (2013-2014), the Margaret Harford Award for "Sustained Achievement" in smaller theatre from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle as well as the Charlie Award for "Excellence in the Arts" by the Hollywood Arts Council.

Since the Crossley Theatre opened its doors in April of 1989 and its second theatre, the David Schall Theatre opened February of 1995, Actors Co-op has produced over 100 main stage productions, over 40 Second Stage productions, staged readings of original works, and has received 19 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards (six wins), 34 LA Weekly Award nominations (six wins), 29 Ovation Award nominations (three wins), five Garland Awards and 125 Drama-Logue Awards. In addition, Actors Co-op was honored with the Margaret Harford Award for "Sustained Achievement" in smaller theatre from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, as well as the Charlie Award for "Excellence in the Arts" by the Hollywood Arts Council.

Actors Co-op is located at 1760 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, CA 90028, on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, one block north of Hollywood Boulevard, just off the Gower Street exit of the 101 Hollywood Freeway. Free, well-lit parking is available on Carlos Street (1/2 block east of Gower).