Claudia Restrepo's Abraham Lincoln Play RECONSTRUCTION Set for Hollywood Fringe, Now thru 6/23

Reconstruction - a new play by Claudia Restrepo which premieres at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, today, June 12 through June 23, combines the legend of Lincoln with the story of Sylvia, a young woman who comes to grips with her father's death through the help of her best friend - a larger than life figure who slings a mean cup of joe - a regular 19th century statesman – Abraham Lincoln.

During his stay, the presidential house guest occupies himself with repairing the fabric of national unity torn to shreds by the Civil War. To guests, expected and otherwise, he is as invisible as he has been since 1865. And yet to Sylvia, a Civil War buff and grieving daughter, Lincoln is both companion and consolation.

United in their sense of loss and need for escape, the unlikely duo lose themselves in historical daydreams- until a love stricken author compels Sylvia to chose between her 19th century fantasy and her 21st century reality.

Writer Claudia Restrepo has always shared a love of Civil War history, as well as an admiration for Abraham Lincoln, with her father. With Reconstruction, Claudia chose to explore the complicated relationship between a father and daughter, as well as the difficult realizations that accompany blind admiration- be it for a family member, or a historical figure.

Reconstruction was first written in 2009 while the author attended Occidental College. The play was then selected for the 2010 Occidental College New Play Festival where it received a staged reading with professional actors. Two years later, Reconstruction is on the verge of its first staged run.

Directed by Kaja Martin and written by Claudia Restrepo, Reconstruction will premiere this June as part of the 2012 Hollywood Fringe Festival. The festival serves as "an annual celebration of emerging artists in Los Angeles" – hollywoodfringe.org and runs June 14 – 24. Starring: Claudia Restrepo, Kipp Moorman, Jonathan Chase, and Lisa Goodman. Reconstruction will be performed at The Lounge Theatres in Los Angeles- 6201 Santa Monica Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90038.

The show dates are PREVIEW Tuesday, 6/12 8:00pm, Thursday, 6/14 8:00pm, Saturday, 6/16 11:00pm, Thursday 6/21 8:00pm, Friday, 6/22 11:00pm and Sat 6/23 11:00pm. All performances are pay what you can from www.hff12.org/783, and at the Fringe Box Office at The Open Fist Theater, or at the door.

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