Contra Costa Civic Theatre to Present YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU
"Follow your bliss" is the order of the day when Contra Costa Civic Theatre (CCCT) presents the uproarious comedy, You Can't Take It With You, directed by CCCT Artistic Director Marilyn Langbehn, from November 11 through December 4. For tickets and information visit the theatre's website at www.ccct.org or call 510.524.9012.
Written by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart during the height of the Great Depression and winner of the 1937 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, You Can't Take It With You has delighted audiences for generations. Daughter Alice is in love with the boss' son, but when she brings him and his parents home to meet her decidedly nontraditional family, more than fireworks ensure. The New York Times said of the play in its review of the 2014 Broadway revival, "A portrait of tax-dodging, rule-defying, work-evading, good-hearted folk who live only to please themselves and suffer no serious consequences, "You Can't Take It With You" is one of the most persuasive works of pure escapism in Broadway."
"It's fascinating to me how a play that is such a product of its historic moment has so much to teach us," says director Marilyn Langbehn. "Underlying its breezy good humor are questions we still ask ourselves today: what makes a family; how do we stay connected to each other in an increasingly uncertain and complex world, and how important are material things to our definition of happiness? There's a reason we keep returning to the Sycamore household; their ability to thrive with love and laughter is irresistible."
The company for You Can't Take It With You is comprised of CCCT veteran performers and many who are making their debut appearance on the theatre's stage: Stephen Steiner as Grandpa, Pamela Drummer-Williams as Penny, FrEd Pitts as Paul, Kate McGrath as Alice, Kate Brennan as Elsie, Joseph Hirsch as Ed, Debra Harvey as Rheba, Tim Holt Jones as Donald, Tom Farris as Mr. DePinna, Randy Blair as Tony, Geoffrey Colton as Mr. Kirby, Miyoko Sakatani as Mrs. Kirby, Jason Berner as Mr. Kolenkov, Chris Harper as Mr. Henderson, Shay Oglesby-Smith as Gay Wellington, Sandi Weldon as the Grand Duchess Olga Katrina, and Mike Reynolds as the FBI agent.
The design team includes scenic designer Stewart Lyle, costume designer Lisa Danz, lighting designer Courtney Johnson, Sound Designer Michael Kelly, and props designers Devon LaBelle and Holly Below.
MARILYN LANGBEHN (Director) is in her fourth season as Artistic Director at CCCT. Upcoming productions for the company include You Can't Take It With You and the world premiere of The Lost Years; previous productions include The Mountaintop, The Sound of Music, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)(revised), and August: Osage County, which received "Best Production" and "Best Director" nods at the inaugural Theatre Bay Area (TBA) awards in 2014. Since moving to the Bay Area in 2004, she has directed numerous productions including the West Coast premiere of David Mamet's Race ("Best Director", The Inlander), Rabbit Hole ("Top Ten Bay Area Productions of the Year", Theater Dogs); Driving Miss Daisy ("Top Ten Bay Area Productions of the Year", Contra Costa Times); Superior Donuts (San Francisco premiere); Frost/Nixon (Bay Area premiere); Looking for Normal (Bay Area premiere); Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?; The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee; Jesus Christ Superstar; Kiss Me, Kate; The Woman in Black; and Shadowlands. Ms. Langbehn is also the Marketing and PR Manager for California Shakespeare Theater in Berkeley.
Four-play season packages for the remainder of CCCT's 2016-17 season are on sale now; $80 for adult subscriptions and $40 for youth ages 16 and under. Single tickets for You Can't Take It With You are $22 for adults in advance, or $28 at the door; youth tickets for ages 16 and under are $11 in advance, or $15 at the door. Discounts available for groups of 15 or more. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm. All performances take place at CCCT's intimate and fully accessible theatre in the Flynn building located at 951 Pomona Avenue (cross street Moeser) in El Cerrito. Free parking is available in the adjoining lot. Subscriptions and single tickets may be purchased online at www.ccct.org or by phone at 510.524.9012.
Contra Costa Civic Theatre, established in 1959 by Louis and Bettianne Flynn and a group of dedicated volunteers and now under the artistic direction of Marilyn Langbehn, is a non-profit community theatre with its permanent home in El Cerrito, CA. Our mission is to provide affordable, high-quality entertainment to residents throughout the East Bay and provide training in performing arts for children and adults. We are proud to be an independent, self-sufficient organization presenting five Main Stage and thirteen youth productions annually in our intimate two hundred-seat theatre.
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