"Summertree" September 19, 2008

Miner’s Alley Playhouse presents the Regional Premiere of
Summertree

by Ron Cowen

Directed by Wendy Moore

Set in 1968, "Summertree" examines an era that was filled with questions, conflicts, social unrest and a cacophony of voices. As Country Joe asked the question "...what are we fighting for?" families were grappling with the true cost of war.

Travel with our Young Man as he remembers his youth, his love, his terror, and the idiosyncrasies of living. This is a story that will question where we came from, where we're going and most important where we are now and what do we truly value. This beautifully told story pays tribute to all those who have shared the helpless feeling of losing a loved one before his/her time.

Miner’s Alley Playhouse presents “Summertree” September 19 - October 26. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 6 p.m. Final Sunday performance on October 26 is a 2 p.m. Matinee Only (no 6 p.m. show on final Sunday). Opening Night will feature our Themed Reception open to all who attend. Miners Alley Playhouse, 1224 Washington Avenue (Downtown Golden above the Old Foss Building). Park free in the adjacent parking lot. Tickets are $20 (student, senior, and group rates available) and available by calling 303-935-3044 or online at www.minersalley.com.

The cast, under the direction of Wendy Moore, includes Jeffrey Haas as Young Man, Priscilla Young as Mother, John Lodico as Father, Missy Moore as Girl, Shawn Cremer as Little Boy and Johnny Schroeder as Soldier.

Wendy Moore has been involved in theatre as a director and sometimes actor for the past 37 years. A former high school principal, Wendy has been working in theatres throughout Colorado since retiring in 2005. Wendy has received the Best Director Award from adjudicators seven times at the annual Colorado Theatre Festival. Additionally, she has twice been named Best Director at the AACT Region VII Festival. In 1997, her production of “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” was chosen to represent the US at an International Theatre Festival in Thun, Switzerland. Wendy was Resident Director of the Goldenrod Showboat for three years and Artistic Director of the Backstage Theatre in Breckenridge from 1989-1998.

Ron Cowen’s “Summertree” was first produced in 1967 during the height of the Vietnam War. It was also Cowen’s first play. “Summertree” received the Drama Desk Award for Best off-Broadway Play of 1968 and went on to become a Pulitzer Prize nominee that same year. Kirk Douglas purchased the film rights to the play as a gift to his son after Michael Douglas was fired from the stage production. The movie, starring Michael Douglas, was released in 1971. Cowen went to work writing for television, winning an Emmy Award for the 1985 mini-series An Early Frost. He and his partner Daniel Lipman created the show Leap Years and were the writers and executive producers for Queer as Folk for Showtime.

Miner’s Alley Playhouse presents

“Summertree”

Sept. 19 - Oct. 26

Fri./Sat. 7:30 p.m.; Sun. 6 p.m.

Sunday, Oct 26 at 2 p.m. (no 6 p.m. performance on 10/26)

Miners Alley Playhouse, 1224 Washington Avenue

(Downtown Golden above the Old Foss Building)

Tickets: $20

$3 Discount to Active and Retired Military

303-935-3044 minersalley.com