New Guard Theater Company Stages First Full Production THE IMPOSTER As A Drama

New Guard Theater Company kicks off their first full production, The Imposter, with a dramatic twist. The classic play, also known as "Tartuffe" or "The Hypocrite," was first produced in 1664 and written by French playwright Molière, who was famous for his theatrical comedies. So why approach it as a drama? Co-founder and producer, Nick Thurston shares his perspective, "We are looking at Tartuffe through the lens of "now," in the midst of the Trump administration, and with the #metoo movement and #timesup in full swing. Gone are the days in which we laughed at casual sexual misconduct, day-to-day violence towards women, and dictatorial power wielded by familial patriarchs. Although there is still a great deal of comedy in Moliere's brilliant rhyming couplets, we are forced to take a more nuanced look at what The Imposter says about men, women, manipulation and power."

Thurston and his co-founder, Matt Little began New Guard in 2016. Upon moving to Los Angeles from the Bay Area, they found themselves hungry for deep engagement in the work of theater and sought to work with like-minded peers who shared their passion for story and the theatrical process. They aim to create a home for high-caliber theatre in Los Angeles for generations of actors and theater lovers to come. Therefore, they built an ensemble of artists aligned to pursue this dream together.

In 2017, New Guard created Company Presents, a series of original one acts produced monthly to allow their ensemble to hone their craft, while building an audience and community around their work. They performed over forty original pieces of music, dance, drama and immersive theater that covered topics as diverse as Hurricane Harvey, the rise of Steve Bannon, racial inequality and more. They performed to over 2,000 people in 12 different venues in Los Angeles.

New Guard promises their audience truth, generosity and boldness. "If our audience gives us the ultimate resource - time - then our primary goal is to make it worth their while," shares Thurston. The company believes in fighting to make excellent theater and learning how to do it better every day. Thurston highlights, "We believe in the magic and possibility of the theatre. In the enduring power of this ageless medium. In using art to tackle the important and challenging ideas of our time. In the unwavering pursuit of excellence. In embracing and celebrating the ephemerality of theater. In making theatre more accessible to new audiences."

The Imposter is staged at the Atwater Village Theater and runs through February 25. Tickets are available through Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-imposter-tickets-41592750035.

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