New Light Theater Project's PICTURE OURSELVES IN LATVIA Opens Tonight

New Light Theater Project presents the World premiere of PICTURE OURSELVES IN LATVIA by hot, up-and-coming British playwright Ross Howard. Directed by Sarah Norris, the show opens tonight, July 17, at the Access Theater.

PICTURE OURSELVES IN LATVIA is a contemporary comedy on contemporary England. Desires are suppressed and aspirations muddled for both the staff and patients of a psychiatric ward. Rank and rule clash with what the heart and mind want in this environment of division and distraction.

PICTURE OURSELVES IN LATVIA stars Christian Ryan, Amy Lee Pearsall, Christopher Daftsios, Gregory James Cohan, Andy Nogasky, and Dana Benningfield, with a design team that includes Michael O'Connor (lighting), Oliver Sohngen (set), and Samantha Lind (costumes). This production is Associate Produced by Access Theater.

British playwright Ross Howard's plays have received full productions notably in London (Theatre 503, Upstairs at the Gatehouse, Riverside Studios, Old Red Lion), Las Vegas (Onyx Theatre), Minneapolis (Pillsbury House Theatre), San Francisco (The Phoenix Theatre), and New York City (Cherry Lane Theatre). Hailing from Lancashire, in 2008 he was awarded a Playwright Fellowship from the Edward Albee Foundation. Arthur and Esther was awarded "Best of Fringe" at Las Vegas Fringe Festival 2010. No One Loves Us Here was a finalist for the New York Stage and Film Founders Award 2012, while Frisky & The Panda Man was a winning finalist in the 38th Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival in 2013. Arthur and Esther, Picture Ourselves In Latvia and Our Walk Through The World: Six Short Plays will be published by Samuel French in early 2014. Ross holds an M.F.A in playwriting from UNLV and has taught theatre and playwriting as an adjunct faculty member of the CSU Fresno theatre department. He now lives in London.

New Light Theater Project 's main purpose is to collaborate - to act as a conduit for artists whose work speaks to the current culture - in order to build and sustain relationships within the theatre community. For more information, visit NewLightTheaterProject.com.

PICTURE OURSELVES IN LATVIA runs now through August 9, Thursday-Saturday at 8pm. Access Theater is located at 380 Broadway between Walker and White Streets, 2 blocks south of Canal -- accessible from the N,R,6,1,A,C&E trains at Canal. Tickets are free (with a suggested donation of $10) at BrownPaperTickets.com or 630-632-1459.