Pacific Resident Theatre Opens World Premiere of SWEET THURSDAY Tonight, 8/4

This World Premiere stage adaptation of John Steinbeck's Sweet Thursday, transports you to Cannery Row, Monterey, CA circa 1947 for a surprising and timeless romantic comedy. This comic allegory, featuring live music, explores one of Steinbeck's greatest themes – that humanity and love make goodness and happiness possible. Adapted from the novel by Robb Derringer and Matt McKenzie, directed by Matt McKenzie, Sweet Thursday is the first show of Pacific Resident Theatre's 26th season.

Doc, a marine biologist, returns from the war to his lab in the heart of Cannery Row. To the chagrin of the boys at the Palace Flophouse and the girls at the Bear Flag Bordello, he's a changed man. As a community they take up the cause of helping Doc get back to his old self. Maybe the answer lies in Suzy, the newest girl at the bordello, who just doesn't seem to be much of a hustler. This comic fairytale is an ode to a place that Steinbeck loved and to a community that inspired him.

Matt McKenzie (Director and Co-Adapter) directed William Saroyan's The Time of Your Life at the Pacific Resident Theatre where he is a long-time member. It was nominated "Best Revival of the Year" 2008, by the Los Angeles Drama Critics' Circle. He also directed the Co-Op production of Valerie Dillman's Sarah's War at PRT which went on to a critically acclaimed run at the Hudson Theatre this year. He is a fight choreographer who has staged dozens of fights at theatres around the country. Matt has been a member of Actor's Equity Association for over thirty years and has performed major roles at theatres all across the United States. He was in the Academy Award winning film "Gods and Monsters". Television viewers may remember him from recurring roles on "Mad Men" and "24".

ROBB DERRINGER (Co-Adapter) is a native of the San Francisco Bay Area and trained at the prestigious Foothill Theatre Conservatory before moving to Los Angeles in 1993 to attend UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television acting program. Robb was a company member of the award-winning Diavolo Dance Theatre. He met Marilyn Fox in 1995 and has been a company member at PRT for over 15 years. He was last seen at PRT as Joe in the award-winning production of The Time Of Your Life. He played Johnny Morrison in The Blue Dahlia and George in Of Mice And Men. Also at PRT, Prelude To A Kiss, Los Angeles and Playing With Fire. John Steinbeck is Mr. Derringer's favorite writer and including Of Mice And Men and The Grapes Of Wrath, Sweet Thursday marks his 3rd Steinbeck play. He has worked extensively in television and feature films including "The Lake," " Cold Case," "How I Met your Mother," "All My Children," "CSI," "Imagine That," "Ball Don't Lie," "Air Force One" and "Krippendorf's Tribe." Robb is the proud father of a son, Gage, who is also an actor, writer and comedian.

CREATIVE TEAM:

Set Design: CHUCK ERVEN
Light Design: William WildAY
Costume Design: AUDREY EISNER
Sound Design: Alexander Enberg
Musical Director and Original Incidental Music: LONDON SHOVER
Stage Manager: CRYSTAL MAGALLANES
Assistant Stage Manager: SARA GARCIA
Executive Producer: MARILYN FOX
Associate Executive Producer: ROBert Cannon
Producers: SARA NEWMAN-MARTINS & WHITNEY WHETSTONE
Associate Producer: JOHN DITTRICK

Cast: LISA CIRINCIONE, LEE DE BROUX, ROBB DERRINGER, JEFF DOUCETTE, KEVIN FABIAN, Suzanne Ford, CLARINDA ROSS-GRESS, FRANK GRESS, Googy Gress. GUS GRESS, JOHNNY HAWTHORN, Grace Lee, Ed Levey, LELA LOREN, DENNIS MADDEN, ERICJOHN SCIALO, NORMAN SCOTT, LONDON SHOVER and GEORGE VILLAS

The show opens tonight, August 4 at 8:00 p.m., with performances running Thursday through Saturday at 8:00 p.m.; Sunday at 3:00 p.m. through Sunday, September 30, 2012.

TICKETS: $20.00 - $28.00; Group rates available.

PACIFIC RESIDENT THEATRE is located at 703 Venice Boulevard, Venice, Calif. (four blocks west of Lincoln Blvd.) Purchase tickets online at www.PacificResidentTheatre.com or at (310) 822-8392 VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express Welcome. There is wheelchair access.

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