Long Beach Playhouse & HCC to Present SAVING HARTOPIA

As part of its 2016 Collaborative season, the Playhouse and the Homeland Cultural Center (HCC) are pleased to present Saving Hartopia. This youth-devised work was created and is performed by members of Homeland's junior drama club and is a first for the Long Beach Playhouse.

The play takes place in the fictional town of Hartopia. It's like any other quaint superhero town and watches one day blend seamlessly into the next. Until today - the children of the town have awakened to find all of their parents have gone missing! Desperate for answers, they must join forces with an ominous figure and cultivate the powers within themselves to save Hartopia.

"Devised theater has been around since the 1960s. Rather than a script written by one person, devised theater scripts come from a group of people and improvisational techniques," said Andrew Vonderschmitt, Executive and Producing Director for the Long Beach Playhouse. "Participants are an integral part of the entire creative process, from the creation of the concept, story and script to the final staged production."

According to Vonderschmitt, devised theater is a staple in theater training, particularly in collaborative workshops and is a growing trend for community theaters. The two come together in this collaboration.

"The idea for this partnership came from Adanna Kenlow. We met last year when she played the young Vera Stark in our production of Meet Vera Stark," said Vonderschmitt.

"Adanna teaches improvisational acting to youth at Homeland and suggested we collaborate. I was thrilled to work with her on this devised piece. It's the kind of project I love because it lets young artists create something that gives them pride and builds a love of theater that can last a lifetime."

Saving Hartopia was written by Kenlow and Homeland's Junior Drama Club, whose members range in age from nine to 17. Kenlow is directing the piece and the young actors are Idris Sol Perez, Darriella Lewis, Spencer Frye, Melody Dadgar, and Darrian Lewis.

Adanna Kenlow is a Long Beach native. She developed a love for the arts at a young age, and believes that they are essential to human development and expression. Along with acting, writing, directing and producing, Adanna teaches improvisational acting to children and youth at the Homeland Cultural Center, the birthplace of her own passion for the arts! She is excited to return to the Long Beach Playhouse, this time, behind the scenes, and is grateful for the opportunity. Saving Hartopia has given her a chance to act on her personal mission to use the arts to teach, inspire and empower.

Homeland Cultural Center is a part of the Department of Parks, Recreation & Marine under the auspices of the Community Recreation Services Bureau. The mission of Homeland is to provide a safe place for the cultivation, preservation and promotion of art forms, both traditional and contemporary, representing the diverse array of cultures that make up Long Beach today. Youth sports and after-school programs are important components of Homeland's commitment to the community.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at www.lbplayhouse.org or by calling the box office at 562-494-1014.