SMART LOVE Opens In Los Angeles January 12th

LA Drama Critics Circle Award Winning Director Elina de Santos helms the contemporary comedy SMART LOVE opening January 12th at Pacific Resident Theatre in Los Angeles. The west coast premiere marks the second professionally produced full length play by writer/actor Brian Letscher. This and Letscher's previous work, WHEN THE LIGHTS COME ON, premiered at Jeff Daniels' The Purple Rose Theatre Company.

With a scientific twist, SMART LOVE presents the possibility of new beginnings in this rapidly changing world. The Wachowski household is turned upside down when their son makes a surprise visit home, from MIT, with an unexpected guest. How far will human beings go in order to salvage love?

"So MUCH in this brave new world of technology! No doubt we are all severely over-stimulated," says playwright Brian Letscher. "Irony apparent, I turn on my TV and click through a half-dozen streaming services trying to find the perfect viewing pleasure that will help me feel better and send me off to sleep. Further down that meta-hole, I find a documentary on the explosion of technology and the possibilities moving forward in a brave new world. I cannot fall asleep, but a year later I have this play."

Brian Letscher wrote When The Lights Come On which premiered at Jeff Daniels' The Purple Rose Theatre Company where Smart Love had a sold-out run in 2017. As an actor Brian appeared as secret service agent "Tom Larsen" on the hit show Scandal among several other regular and recurring roles in series such as Valor, One & Done, and Pretty Little Liars.

Director Elina de Santos received the LADCC Career Achievement in Directing Award (2012). She is Co-Artistic Director at Rogue Machine Theatre. Selected world premiere directing credits include include Hostage (MK Brooks), In the Valley of the Shadow (K. Cortez), Dirty Filthy Love Story (R. Mersola), Razorback (J. Pollono), Church & State (J. Williams). Other premiere credits include: Daytona (J. Cotton), Stop Kiss (D. Son), Falling (D. Jent), Albee's A Delicate Balance and Mamet's Speed the Plow. At PRT, Odyssey, WCJT: Miller's All My Sons, Death of a Salesman, & Broken Glass, Odets' Rocket to the Moon, Awake & Sing!, & Williams' Orpheus Descending - LADCC Award for Direction.

Pacific Resident Theatre is nationally recognized as one of the top regional theaters on the West Coast. The company presents works of the highest quality, in order to entertain, inform and educate its multicultural community. In addition to the company's commitment to rediscover the rarely performed classics, PRT is focused on fostering and developing new works through the collaboration of an artistic ensemble influenced by societal relevance, past, present and future. Pacific Resident Theatre promotes the theatre arts by providing opportunities for artists and craftsmen to develop and enrich their skills.

SMART LOVE cast includes Melissa Weber Bales (Rhinoceros, A View from the Bridge - LA Weekly Award nom - Leading Female Performance); Scott Conte (Big Love, Golden Boy, Anna Christie, Lulu, Rocket to the Moon, Lions, The Cherry Orchard at PRT); Zachary Grant (Rogue Machine's Oppenheimer, Skylight Theatre's Hostage, Odyssey Theatre's Punk Rock. Film: Being Charlie directed by Rob Reiner); Michael Mantell (The Model Apartment at Geffen Playhouse, Broadway Bound at Odyssey, A Small Fire at Echo, The Tenth Man at Lincoln Center).

Produced by Marilyn Fox, Terry Davis, and Tania Getty. David Mauer (Set Design), Leigh Allen (Lighting Designer), Chris Moscatiello (Sound Design), Elizabeth Cox (Costume Design).

SMART LOVE opens at 8pm on Saturday, January 12th and runs at 8pm on Thursdays - Saturdays, and 3pm on Sundays through February 24, 2019. Pacific Resident Theatre is located at 703 Venice Blvd. in Venice, CA 90291. Tickets are $25 - $34 and can be purchased online at http://www.pacificresidenttheatre.com or by calling (310) 822-8392.