Ruskin Group Theatre Presents THE COLLECTOR

Frederick has been obsessed with Miranda but unable to make contact with her because of his lack of social skills and her middle class status. A lonely luckless young man, he works as a clerk at City Hall and collects attractive butterflies in his spare time. Fredrick's luck is about to change with this beautiful art student, while Miranda's luck may be running out. As the two match wits, this psychological and cunning thriller grabs hold... and delivers you to the darker side of passion.

Mark Healy (Playwright) adapted THE COLLECTOR for stage. His writing credits include a translation of RACINE'S BRITANNICUS, and John Fowles THE FRENCH LIEUTENANT'S WOMAN, Jane Austen's PERSUASIONS, SENSE AND SENSIBILITY and DRACULA, as well as LORD OF THE UNDEAD.

JOHN FOWLES (Writer) has been celebrated as one of the most seductive storytellers of the late twentieth century. He burst from obscurity with the spectacular debut of his first novel, The Collector. When the paperback rights were sold in the spring of that year it was close to the highest price that had hitherto been paid for a first novel. Over the next two decades, the books rolled out: The Magus, The French Lieutenant's Woman, The Aristos, The Ebony Tower, Daniel Martin, Mantissa, A Maggot, and a host of critically acclaimed dramatic translations and penetrating essays.

Edward Edwards (Director) has worked on Broadway in Mike Nichols production of STREAMERS and played the title role in THE NERD. In Los Angeles his theatre credits include ANOTHER PART OF THE FOREST at The Ahmanson, PORGY AND BESS at LA Opera, the west coast premiere of BABY WITH THE BATHWATER at the Coronet, and THE HASTY HEART, for which he won the Los Angeles Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor. Edward has worked on nine feature films.

THE COLLECTOR opens Friday, January 29th and runs through March 6, 2010. Performances continue January 8th on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm at Ruskin Group Theatre, 3000 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90405. Tickets are $15 ($10 for students, seniors, and guild members) and can be purchased in advance by calling (310) 397-3244. For more information please visit www.ruskingrouptheatre.com. Free parking at the theater.

Mike Myers (Production Manager) has produced more than 50 projects since 2002, including the critically acclaimed and long running ITALIAN AMERICAN RECONCILIATION. He is currently directing the World Premiere of DIGGING UP DAD at RGT and was praised for his skillful guidance at the helm of Chazz Palminteri's FAITHFUL last season. Mike is a co-creator of the Ruskin's critically acclaimed CAFÉ PLAYS, a monthly offering of one-acts that are done in 10 ½ hours from conception to staging.

RUSKIN GROUP THEATRE has been making an impact on the Los Angeles theatrical scene with an eclectic mix of thought provoking plays and programs. Their ‘Fostering Imagination' program sponsors foster kids in theatre & film classes that produce several original shows each year. The CAFÉ PLAYS, created by RGT are produced monthly and are the culmination of writers, actors, and directors who meet at 9am, where they are given a theme. They then write, produce, and perform a show by 7pm the same day. Recently celebrating their 6th anniversary, RGT supporters Ed Asner, Dylan McDermott, Chris Mulkey, Olivia d'Abo, and other industry celebrities joined to produce the Best of Café Plays (both shows sold out within hours). Anthony Hopkins and Anthony Franciosa were some of the Ruskin School of Theatre's first teachers.

JOHN RUSKIN (Artistic Director) helmed the critically acclaimed production of UNBEATABLE HAROLD, and STRANGE SNOW which extended its run to accommodate demand from local audiences. John's years of experience include his studies at the Yale School of Drama, British American Drama Academy in Oxford, England, and the University of Colorado in Boulder. In New York, Ruskin joined the acting faculty of The Neighborhood Playhouse at the request of Sanford Meisner (who he apprenticed with) before moving to Los Angeles where he founded his own school of acting and a professional theatre company. The company's mission is to expose the community to the enlightening experience that theater can be while providing outreach programs to people in need with our "Healing Through the Arts" program.

JAIMI PAIGE (Miranda) has appeared in GHOSTS at A Noise Within, GREEN EYES and ADAM AND EVE ON A FERRY at the Tennessee Williams Theatre Festival (Provincetown), PROPOSALS at Old Log Theatre, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, TALE OF TWO CITIES, ROMEO AND JULIET, ENCHANTED APRIL and THE VIOLET HOUR at Park Square Theatre, A DEVIL INSIDE, THE CRUCIBLE, and INDEPENDENCE at Gremlin Theatre, and HAMLET and ROZENCRANTZ AND GUILENSTERN ARE DEAD at Theatre Pro Rata. Film/TVcredits include Peacock starring Cillian Murphey and Ellen Page, 2084 (coming 2010), Medium, Gigi 12x5, Diagnosis X, and Ghost Whisperer: The Other Side III.

DANE ZINTER: (Fredrick) was last seen at the Ruskin in 12 ANGRY MEN and the critically acclaimed production of STRANGE SNOW. Dane's film credits include Here and Then and Reflections. On the CW Network Dane was seen in the comedy series The Game, which was produced by Kelsey Grammar.