Christenings June 15, 2007

GALATEAN PLAYERS ENSEMBLE THEATRE

PRESS RELEASE & CALENDAR LISTING

Laura Means Berchdorf is a busy woman. Besides raising 3 elementary school-aged children, and juggling piano recitals, homework and sports activities, she’s managed to complete “Christenings” the final installment of her “Life Cycles Trilogy,” which will open Saturday, June 16 at 8:30 p.m. at the School House Cultural Center in Pleasant Hill. The play runs June 16-30, 2007.

“Christenings” explores parenting from pregnancy through childhood. Berchdorf-Means examines multiple perspectives including young parents experiencing the birth of their first child, grandparents raising their grandchildren, as well as older couples welcoming “surprise” pregnancies. Several characters from previous installments in the trilogy are reprised, including “June and Ward” and the “Marriage and Date Fairies”

“Laura writes with the perfect blend of comedy and pathos when examining the elements of life that most people encounter: Birth, Relationships and Death,” said Helen Means who has directed all the pieces in the trilogy which include “Vows” and “Eulogy.”

This mother-daughter duo have been creating theatre in the East Bay for over three decades, as the elder Means celebrates the 30th Anniversary of the Onstage Theatre, the company she founded this Fall.

The show features Heidi Appe, Beth Bemis, Beth Chastain, Carter Chastain, Bill Clemente, Roger Craig, Chuck Escover, Ann Kendrick, Karen Leigh, Kevin McCaffree, Kathryn G. McCarty, June McCue, Bill Oakley, Eddie Peabody, Jennifer Brown Peabody, Shanti Reilly, Stacey Reeves, Mikel Simon, Ryan Terry, Joyce Tubbs, and Melissa Vargas.

Reprising roles from “Vows” and “Eulogy” include Appe, Craig, Beth Chastain, Kendrick, Leigh, McCarty, McCue, Brown-Peabody, Reeves, Terry and Vargas. Beth Chastain is joined by her son Carter, who is one of 22 Freshman admitted to the UCLA Drama program this Fall.

“Christenings” will run Fridays & Saturdays at 8:30 p.m., Thursdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Proceeds from the Friday, June 22 performance will benefit the group: Moment by Moment.

Ticket prices are: General $15, Senior & Students $12. Special Priced shows are Preview, Friday June 15 at $10 and Bargain Priced Thursdays $7. Tickets are available by calling (925) 676-5705 or online on the show's web page http://www.galateanplayers.com/home.html.



CALENDAR LISTING



WHAT: Galatean Players Ensemble Theatre produces “Christenings” a New Play by Laura Means Berchdorf.



WHEN JUNE 15 - 30, 2007. Friday & Saturday 8:30 p.m., Thursdays June 21 & 28 8 p.m. Sundays June 17 & 24 2:30 p.m. Opening night is Saturday, June 16, Preview is June 15. The Friday, June 22 performance is a benefit for the group: Moment by Moment



WHERE: Schoolhouse Cultural Center, 2050 Oak Park Blvd., Pleasant Hill. Corner of Oak Park Blvd. and Pleasant Hill Road.



TICKETS: (925) 676-5705. Prices: General $15, Senior & Students $12 Bargain Priced Thursdays $7 all tickets Preview, Friday June 15, all tickets $10.



PLAY DESCRIPTION: The final installment in the “Life Cycles Trilogy” by Laura Means Berchdorf explores parenting from pregnancy through childhood. The Trilogy has also included the plays “Vows” and “Eulogy”



WEB PAGE: http://www.galateanplayers.com/home.html

Official Website: http://www.galateanplayers.com/home.html