The Zoo Theatre Company Presents The World Premiere Of MY DATE WITH DEATH

The Zoo Theatre Company, Daniel Sugimoto, Artistic Director, will present the World Premiere of "MY DATE WITH DEATH - A Musical Romance," with Book, Music and Lyrics written by Daniel Sugimoto, starring Daniel Sugimoto as Lincoln Thomas (Link) and Samantha M. Lawrence as Jasmine/Lady Death/Diallo under the direction of Julia Lisa. Performances will be presented at the Miles Memorial Playhouse, 1130 Lincoln Boulevard (located between Wilshire Boulevard and California Avenue), Santa Monica, CA 90403, for a Limited Four-Week Run on Saturdays and Sundays at 8:00 p.m. on November 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, December 1 and 2, 2018. Tickets can be purchased by calling 323-301-9002 or online at www.thezootheatreco.com

In "MY DATE WITH DEATH - A Musical Romance," Link finds himself at the end of his rope, drinking the remainder of his life away at a bar when he is visited by a Spirit from the beyond. This Spirit reveals herself to be a Soul Collector sent to keep Link from ending his energy too soon. Strap in and take a Dickensian sprint across the universe with Link, an isolated soul, as he falls in love with Lady Death, and her never-ending knowledge of the cosmos.

Writer/Composer Daniel Sugimoto says, "I have struggled my entire life with questions of suicide, the purpose of life and what comes after. In 'MY DATE WITH DEATH - A Musical Romance," through the character of Link, I am channeling my personal pain into music and asking not what can others do for Link, but what Link can do for others. Being so close to calling it quits in real life, I have decided to reframe my purpose and express my love of death as a genuine love of life in this theatrical venture."

Sugimoto continued, "Much like an episode of 'Dr. Who,' the British science-fiction television program, in which an extraterrestrial being, Dr. Who, explores the universe in a time-traveling spaceship, through my fantasy musical, 'MY DATE WITH DEATH,' I try to breathe light into the dark side of the universe of death, loss and those who struggle with suicide. With 12 brand new original songs and two characters, I'm focusing on different ways to think, discuss, and cope with the inevitable end of this thing called life. My hope is to entertain and to ease one's ideas towards issues that more than a few deal with on a daily basis and maybe come out with a brighter broader understanding for those who need a hand here and there."

The Zoo Theatre Company strives to pursue artistic unity by standing up for important causes, and giving back to the programs it believes in. The company will donate $1 from every "MY DATE WITH DEATH - A Musical Romance" ticket sold through its website, www.thezootheatreco.com, to The Trevor Project, the world's largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ youth.

The production team for "MY DATE WITH DEATH - A Musical Romance" includes: Daniel Sugimoto (of North Hollywood), Artistic Director, The Zoo Theatre Company, Producer, Writer, Composer and Lyricist; Julia Lisa (of North Hollywood), Executive Director, The Zoo Theatre Company, Producer, Director. Stage Manager and Story Editor; Zachary Johnson-Dunlop (of Los Angeles) Lighting Designer; Austin Schumacher (of Van Nuys) Graphic Artist and Production Photographer and Steve Moyer Public Relations (of Los Angeles), Press Representative.

Julia Lisa, Director of "MY DATE WITH DEATH - A Musical Romance," said "With 'MY DATE WITH DEATH' we open doors for everyone to reach out and provide anthems for the trials of life and soothing jazz fusion musical theatre songs that ease the worry and wonder of the afterlife and refocus our purpose on the present beautiful world we live in now. This journey is a mind bending hour and a half of philosophy, science fiction, and social commentary that subverts expectations on what a musical has to be and what a theatrical experience needs to be. As the tech world evolves hour by hour and social interaction becomes more and more divided by misinformation and not interaction, with this piece we wanted to have a genuine moment of honest dialogue and visuals giving the audience a safer space to learn and discuss death and the afterlife. Since death is an equal component in all human life, it was imperative to us we produced a show that didn't have party lines, didn't point fingers, but instead opened people's eyes to their true value and potential. Too many in today's world are feeling lost and at times so isolated that they fear reaching out."

The musical score of "MY DATE WITH DEATH - A Musical Romance" consists of 12 original songs: "Anybody Really Out There?," "My Date With Death," "Lady Death," "Recycled," "Well Why?," "Diallo," "I Tried," "Souls Reflection," "Shoot Me," "Death Is Waiting," "Be My Lover" and "Finale."

Tickets are $20 each for General Admission for unreserved seating. Tickets are $15 each for Students, Seniors and Military with ID for unreserved seating. VIP Tickets are $40 each and include Reserved First Row Seats, plus two complimentary concessions available at the check-in desk prior to performances. Group Discounts for 10 or more are available by calling the Box Office. The show is 90 minutes without intermission. Performances will be given in the Miles Memorial Playhouse, 1130 Lincoln Boulevard, located between Wilshire Boulevard and California Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90403 during a Four-Week Limited Run on Saturdays and Sunday at 8:00 p.m. on November 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, December 1 and 2, 2018.

For tickets, please call The Zoo Theatre Company Box Office at 323-301-9002, E-mail thezootheatreco@gmail.com or buy online at www.thezootheatreco.com. This show is recommended for audiences 13+. Advance reservations are highly encouraged. There will be Free Talk Back Discussions after select performances; please visit online for more information.

Free Subterranean Garage Parking is available for performances only in the pink granite-faced building located at 808 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90401 (at the intersection of Lincoln Boulevard, one block south of the theatre), which can be accessed from Lincoln Boulevard. Please do not take an automatic machine printed ticket, but instead mention to the parking attendant that you are attending a performance at the Miles Memorial Playhouse, and ask for a special Validated Ticket which you should take with you to the theatre. For theatre patrons wishing to use this garage to park in, please be aware the garage closes at 8:00 p.m. on performance nights. After the performance, when returning to the garage, please swipe your Validated Ticket in the card reader located to the right of the pedestrian entrance to the garage at 808 Wilshire Boulevard, and then take the elevator down to the parking area. The pressure of your vehicle at the exit will lift the gate. Metered parking is also available on streets surrounding the theatre.

To learn form about "MY DATE WITH DEATH - A Musical Romance," and The Zoo Theatre Company, please visit www.thezootheatreco.com.

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