JOHN HENRY: THE STEEL DRIVING MAN, LEADING LADIES and More Headline Culver City Public Theatre's 15th Season

Culver City Public Theatre has announced that the curtain is going up on Saturday, July 13, 2013, for its 15th anniversary season, featuring six weekends of free, outdoor theatre at Dr. Paul Carlson Memorial Park in Culver City, CA.

"We are delighted and proud, for the 15th year in a row, to invite folks to bring their blankets and lawn chairs - even their lunches - and join us for a delightful afternoon of theatre in a beautiful outdoor setting," said CCPT president Heidi Dotson, "and it's free. What more could you ask?"

First on the bill is the "Children's Popcorn Theatre" presentation, featuring the world premiere of John Henry: The Steel Driving Man, the fifth children's play written especially for CCPT by Heidi Dotson, who also is directing the show.

Dotson's take on the American folk tale about a hero with extraordinary strength, who first wields a steel-driving hammer when just a babe in arms, features a climactic showdown between John Henry and the powerful steam driven machine designed to replace him. The audience is encouraged to cheer for John Henry right along with a colorful cast of characters that includes his adoring parents and loving wife, as well as a motley crew of bumbling, comedic, fellow steel drivers and townsfolk.

"It's the classic story of man vs. machine," Dotson said, "with lots of exciting and humorous and twists and turns along the way. We hope lots of children and adults alike will join us to find out who is victorious."

In the cast are Stacy Aspen, Allana Barton, Crystal Coney, Cartrell Daniels, Kevin Graber, Derek Green, Rebecca Lynn Hirschfeld, Judy Rosenfeld, Carol Vandegrift and Tim Wilson. Laura Boccaletti is producer; Marcy Hiratzka, stage manager and costumer.

Second up for the main stage show, Culver City Public Theatre presents Ken Ludwig'S Leading Ladies, a charming comedy set in mid-century York, Pennsylvania. Directed by Los Angeles theatre scene veteran Lewis Hauser, the play revolves around a plot contrived by two down on their luck Shakespearean actors, who disguise themselves as a wealthy dowager's long lost nieces to trick her into leaving them her fortune. The fun begins - in true Ludwig and Shakespearean fashion - when mistaken identities and romantic entanglements complicate matters, and no one can be quite certain who is really fooling whom.

"Leading Ladies is a real 'tour de farce' - pun intended - for our actors and for me as director," said Hauser. "I like to think of it as being on the fastest, most fun roller coaster imaginable, and we're taking our audiences along for the ride. If we leave you breathless with laughter, we've done our jobs."

Leading Ladies (Ludwig) is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.

The cast includes Ria Parody Erlich, Michael German, Phil Hudson, Daniel Litz, Rosie Mandel, David Narloch, Darcy Silveira and P.J. Waggaman. Producers are Heidi Dotson and Ria Parody Erlich. Danit Rothstein is stage manager; Sheridan Cole, costumer. Choreography is by Victoria Miller; sound design by Susan Stangl.

Both John Henry: The Steel Driving Man and Ludwig's Leading Ladies will be performed for six weekends, Saturdays and Sundays,July 13-Aug. 18. Performances of John Henry start at 12 noon, followed by Leading Ladies at 2 p.m.

Dr. Paul Carlson Memorial Park is located at 10400 Braddock Dr., (corner Braddock Dr. and Motor Ave.), Culver City.

Culver City Public Theatre is a volunteer organization wholly subsidized by private donations and grant funds. This summer's performances are made possible in part by a Culver City Art in Public Places Program Performing Arts Grant with support from Sony Pictures Entertainment.

For more information about Culver City Public Theatre, visit the company website, www.ccpt.org, or its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/pages/Culver-City-Public-Theatre/202321706463522.

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