Private Jokes, Public Places at Aurora Opens April 12

Aurora Theatre Company presents Private Jokes, Public Places, a biting academic satire by Oren Safdie. Tony-nominated director Barbara Damashek helms this take-no-prisoners comedy playing April 6 through May 13 (opening April 12) at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley.

"Private Jokes, Public Places offers a disturbing yet humorous glimpse inside the contemporary world of architecture," states press notes, "Margaret, a young Korean-American student, presents her thesis for a public swimming pool to an all-male jury of famous architects. What begins as a straightforward presentation soon leads to a lively academic debate, an examination of intellectual pretension, and the failure of postmodernist culture. As the retorts and wildly disparate points of view escalate, this sharply written comedy swells to a surprising conclusion. A thought-provoking piece about accepting the aesthetics of others while accepting the beauty within oneself, Private Jokes, Public Places asks compelling questions about the state of the male-female power struggle, disrupting the status quo, and the importance of challenging tradition."

M.J. Kang makes her Aurora Theatre Company debut as architecture student Margaret. Kang, who originated the role in 2001 when the production premiered in Los Angeles.  Charles Dean returns to Aurora Theatre Company as Colin.  Robert Parsons (Erhardt) and Max Gordon Moore (William) round out the cast, both making their Aurora Theatre Company debut.

Former Tony-nominee (Quilters) Barbara Damashek directs.  Damashek – an assistant professor at San Francisco State University – has directed productions for South Coast Repertory Theatre, the Actors Theatre of Louisville, Trinity Repertory, Mark Taper Forum, Yale Repertory Theatre, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Center REPertory Company, Marin Theatre Compan, ACT, and Magic Theatre.

Previews are April 6, 7 & 11 at 8PM; April 8 at 2PM.  Opens April 12 with performances through May 13. Show times are Wednesdays – Saturdays at 8PM, Sundays at 2 & 7PM.

The Aurora Theatre is located at 2081 Addison Street, Berkeley CA 94704. For tickets (previews $28, regular performances $38, opening night $50) and information, call 510-843-4822 or visit www.auroratheatre.org