Chance Theater Presents NERVE, Closes 2/27

Chance Theater launches its 2011 season with the West Coast premiere of the edgy romantic comedy Nerve by Adam Szymkowicz.  The production will close on February 27. The play is directed by Marya Mazor. A special "2nd Story" post-show event is directed by Khanisha Foster, a company member with Chicago's Serendipity Theater Collective.

Called "sweet, sexy and neurotic-friendly" by the New York Times, Nerve is a dark comedy about falling into a relationship on the first date. Elliot has never had an online date before-at least not one that showed up. Susan has had far too many but would prefer not to discuss them. When they meet in a bar one night, all their personality flaws are revealed, along with a puppet, some modern dance, and a desperation that may or may not be love.

"Playwright Szymkowicz keeps the impossible relationship alive with wild, honest disagreement and funny, funny misunderstandings all the way through...clever and fast-talking, it makes an indelible comic impression." -Talkin' Broadway

Nerve was written in 2003/04 as Szymkowicz's thesis play at Columbia for his MFA. It was workshopped in 2005 and produced in New York City by Packawallop in 2006. It has had subsequent Popular Productions on the East Coast and in London.

Following every performance of Nerve, there will be a special hosted "2nd Story" Event with the cast, directed by Khanisha Foster. Audience members are invited to join the cast onstage to hang out, drink wine and listen to music. During the event the actors will share dating stories during designated times, and a host will read excerpts of audience member's real-life stories in an effort to increase dialogue among Chance patrons. Not to mention, it's a great way to get to know someone on a first date!

ABOUT ADAM SZYMKOWICZ
Adam Szymkowicz's plays have been produced throughout the U.S., and in Canada, England, The Netherlands and Lithuania. His work has been presented or developed at such places as MCC Theater, Ars Nova, South Coast Rep, Playwrights Horizons, LAByrinth Theater Company, The Lark, Kitchen Dog, HotINK, Theatre of Note and Studio Dante. His plays include Deflowering Waldo, Open Minds, Anne, The Art Machine, Pretty Theft, Food For Fish, Hearts Like Fists, Herbie, Incendiary, Old Fashioned Cold Fusion, Bee Eater, Temporary Everything, Susan Gets Some Play, Fat Cat Killers, Elsewhere, and Nerve. Several of his plays have been published by Dramatists Play Service and Samuel French. He received a Playwright's Diploma from The Juilliard School's Lila Acheson Wallace American Playwrights Program and an MFA from Columbia University where he was the Dean's Fellow. Szymkowicz is a two-time Lecomte du Nouy Prize winner, a member of the Dramatists Guild, the MCC Playwright's Coalition and was a founding member of the Ars Nova Play Group. He has been commissioned by South Coast Repertory. For more, go to www.adamszymkowicz.com.

 

Performances

Previews
January 28 - February 4

Opening Night/Press Night
Saturday, February 5 at 8 pm

Regular run
February 6 - 27

Thursday, Friday & Saturday evenings at 8 pm
Saturday matinees at 3 pm
Sundays at 2 pm

(Sunday February 6 at 5 pm & Sunday February 27 at 2pm & 7pm)

Ticket Prices
$22 to $35
(Discounts for seniors and students)

Information
(714) 777-3033
www.chancetheater.com

Theatre Address
5552 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim Hills, CA 92807

ABOUT CHANCE THEATER
Recently nominated for five 2010 Ovation Awards (the only OC theater to be nominated for the two years in a row), as well as six 2009 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards, Chance Theater is proud to be one of the leading ensemble based theatre companies in Southern California. Twice named "Outstanding Arts Organization" by Arts Orange County, Chance Theater is a recipient of the 2007 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle's Polly Warfield Award for Excellence. Founded in 1999, the Chance Theater's mission has always been to intimately present personally meaningful, uniquely engaging stories that promote dialogue within our community and provide a visceral experience for theatergoers. As a constituent member of Theater Communications Group (TCG), Network of Ensemble Theaters (NET), and the Los Angeles Stage Alliance (LASA), the Chance continues to bring national attention to the Southern California, and Orange County, theater scene.

 

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