2002/2003 “SEASON of DISCOVERY”

     For its 27th year and its second season in its beautiful new home
      in the heart of Burbank, The Colony Theatre will be Equity
   and bring to Los Angeles…

THREE PRODUCTIONS FRESH FROM NEW YORK;
A WORLD PREMIERE THEATRICAL EPIC;
AND A VERY SPECIAL SURPRISE!

March 18th, 2002…BURBANK…Fresh off the success of its smash hit production of SIDE SHOW (now through April 7th), the Colony Theatre Company is very proud to announce its "2002 - 2003 “Season of Discovery.” In this, its second season in its beautiful new home in Burbank, the award-winning theatre company will be presenting three Los Angeles premieres of shows coming from the last few Broadway and Off-Broadway seasons. Two of the productions are listed among American Theatre Magazine’s “Top 10 Most Produced Plays” in regional theatres across America today. It will also present a World Premiere Theatrical Epic and will announce its fifth production shortly. This will also be the first year that the theatre will be an Equity house. Barbara Beckley, Producing Director of the Colony Theatre comments, "This is probably the most exciting time in our 27-year history. It's absolutely thrilling to finally reach our first season of full Equity status, and to have so many plays in our lineup that haven't been seen locally before. All those years of hard work and struggle to get here are finally paying off, and it's enormously gratifying."

The season:

Moises Kaufman’s THE LARAMIE PROJECT will have its Los Angeles premiere at the theatre in June. Directed by the Garland Award-winning Nick DeGruccio (SIDE SHOW, West Coast Premiere of PUTTING IT TOGETHER), this daring, critically acclaimed and emotionally riveting drama of a small town at the epicenter of an incomprehensible crime has been hailed as “an OUR TOWN for the new millennium.” The New York Times hails THE LARAMIE PROJECT as “Nothing short of stunning!” The Colony is especially proud to open its 2002-2003 season with this important and timely work.

This August, Happiness is…YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN as it was re-imagined by its creative team and helped make a star of Kristin Chenoweth when it was revised on Broadway in l999. Directed by Ovation Award-winner Todd Nielsen (CITY OF ANGELS, ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY), the Colony Theatre will bring Los Angeles the premiere of this Tony Award-winning new production of the show, just in time for its 35th Anniversary. With book, music and lyrics written by Clark Gesner and additional material written by Andrew Lippa (THE WILD PARTY), this will be PEANUTS entertainment the whole family can enjoy!

David Lindsay-Abaire’s Drama Desk Award-Winning Play for 2000, FUDDY MEERS will have its Southern California Premiere at the Colony Theatre. The story of an amnesiac desperately trying to regain her memory in the face of ever increasing mayhem, this roller coaster ride of a comedy “explodes with laughter” raves New York Magazine’s John Simon. FUDDY MEERS will be directed by Drama-Logue Award-winning director David Rose (THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER, YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU) and will proudly grace the Colony’s state-of-the-art new space in February, 2003.

Additionally, the Colony will produce a World Premiere adventure epic, BEAUTIFUL IN THE EXTREME by Leon Martell. This theatrical event follows the greatest journey of discovery in our nation’s history - the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Martell has crafted a play of heart-stopping drama and unexpected comedy, an epic of the American West as Meriwether Lewis first saw it - wild, awesome and pristinely beautiful. BEAUTIFUL IN THE EXTREME will also be directed by David Rose and will play the Colony in October, 2002.

Finally, the fifth play of this extraordinary season is a special surprise. The Colony is negotiating for a production worthy of the rest of this historic season for the theatre. An announcement is expected shortly.

Should you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact David Elzer at (818) 508-1754 or by e-mail at ELZERD@aol.com

The Colony Theatre Company is a 27 year old organization dedicated to bringing the finest quality theatrical productions to Los Angeles. The theatre is located at 555 North Third Street, at the corner of Cypress, in the heart of the Burbank Media Center. For further information, call (818) 558-7000. Fax number: (818) 558-7110. E-mail: boxoffice@colonytheatre.org. Or visit our website at www.colonytheatre.org.

CONTACTS: David Elzer
Demand PR

(818) 508-1754

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE