THE ROOMMATE Comes to NVA

New Village Arts has announced the San Diego Premiere of THE ROOMMATE by Jen Silverman. This new dark comedy about self-discovery and new beginnings will be directed by longtime NVA collaborator Samantha Ginn, and will star Milena (Sellers) Phillips and Kim Strassburger.

Described as "THE ODD COUPLE meets BREAKING BAD," THE ROOMMATE is a dark comedy about two women who forge an unlikely bond despite their many differences. Sharon (Phillips), in her mid-fifties, is recently divorced and needs a roommate to share her Iowa home. Robyn (Strassburger), also in her mid-fifties, needs a place to hide and a chance to start over. But as Sharon begins to uncover Robyn's secrets, they encourage her own deep-seated desire to transform her life completely. A dark comedy about what it takes to re-route your life - and what happens when the wheels come off.

NVA Artistic Associate Samantha Ginn will make her mainstage directorial debut with THE ROOMMATE. Ginn oversees NVA's neurodiverse education programs, "Monday Night Live" and "The Mainstage Players," both of which give teenagers and young adults with neurodiversity professional training in the theatre. She is also a regular performer at NVA, having appeared most recently in the critically-acclaimed world premiere adaptation of THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS (which she also co-adapted). Of THE ROOMMATE, Ginn remarks, "There's not a lot of shows that explore the female story in your mid-50s... So, it's exciting to get this story on stage and brought to life." She adds, "It's funny, it's heartbreaking, it's suspenseful, it's everything I want to come see in a play. It's a wild ride, it's a journey of the human spirit, for sure."

Milena (Sellers) Phillips returns to the NVA stage after acclaimed turns in INTIMATE APPAREL, MEN ON BOATS, and HAVING OUR SAY. She is joined by Kim Strassburger, making her return to the NVA stage after several years away (NVA credits include SEASCAPE and SIMPATICO). Both women will bring their considerable experience to this production.

The design team includes frequent, critically-acclaimed NVA collaborators: Violet Ceja (Sound Designer), Kristianne Kurner (Scenic Designer, Craig Noel Award Nominee for Outstanding Scenic Design, 2019), Chris Renda (Lighting Designer), Christopher Scott Murillo (Properties Designer), Joe Prete (Stage Manager), Melissa Coleman-Reed (Sound Designer), and NVA newcomers Micaela Hecht and Beverly Balderrama (Costume Designers).

The production is sponsored by Jack & Valerie Cumming, The City of Carlsbad Cultural Arts Office, Mark Coulombe, Andie Harvey, and Wells Fargo.

THE ROOMMATE will run from March 28 to April 19, with previews from March 20 - 27. Photos will be available on NVA's press page beginning March 27: www.newvillagearts.org/press

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