Photo Flash: THE CLOSENESS OF THE HORIZON in its World Premiere at Odyssey Theatre

Award-winning playwright Richard Martin Hirsch's newest play, The Closeness of the Horizon, which received its world premiere at the Odyssey Theatre last weekend, was inspired by the relationship between the playwright and two members of Palisades High School's 1969 City Champion basketball team. See Bruce Nozick, David Starzyk and Daniel Kash in the production below!

In The Closeness of the Horizon, Hirsch takes audiences back to the summer of '69 to explore the fragile nature of friendship. On the very same day that Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, three teenaged friends from L.A.'s West Side set-out on a six-week tour drumming-up pick-up games of basketball across the country. The shoes were Converse, the music playing on the radio of their VW bus was Top 40, and the world was open to possibility. But is it possible for three high school friends to reconnect after 25 years? As he flashes back from the '90s to the music, mischief and iconic times that defined that cross-country road trip, 40-something Paul Lewin must reconcile the expectations he once held with the reality that he, Stein and "G" – his once-best friends – have drifted apart.

The character of "Stein" was inspired by Hirsch's friendship with Chris Marlowe, currently the play-by-play announcer for the Denver Nuggets, while "G" was based on former San Diego State assistant basketball coach Ken Baker, who passed away in 2009. Hirsch and Marlowe, who hadn't seen each other in ten years, were reunited at last Saturday's opening.

Performances of The Closeness of the Horizon continue on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays @ 8 pm and Sundays @ 2 pm through June 24. Tickets are $25 on Thursdays and Fridays and $30 Saturdays and Sundays. The Odyssey Theatre is located at 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West Los Angeles, 90025. For reservations and information, call (323) 960-1054 or go to www.plays411.com/horizon.