Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Lindsay-Abaire's Wonder of the World will be presented September 24 through November 1, 2009 in the Little Vic Theatre at the Victory Theatre Center in Burbank, CA, it was announced today by Seaglass Theatre, one of Los Angeles' newest and most promising companies under the Artistic Direction of Kimberly Van Luin. Ms. Van Luin founded Chicago's prestigious Griffin Theatre, now in its 21st year of producing. SeaGlass Theatre's first theatrical effort was last year's award-winning, world premiere of How Cissy Grew starring James Denton of ABC's longtime hit series Desperate Housewives.
Standard to Lindsay-Abaire's unique style of writing for the theatre (self-described as "plays peopled with outsiders in search of clarity,") Wonder of the World revolves around a woman named Cass who suddenly leaves her husband and hops on a bus to Niagara Falls in search of freedom, enlightenment and, possibly, the meaning of life. Nothing will prepare you for the dirty little secret Cass discovers in her husband's sweater drawer. Fleeing to the honeymoon capital of the world, the heroine embarks on a journey of self-discovery that has her crossing paths with a blithely suicidal alcoholic, a salty sea captain and a strange caper involving a gargantuan jar of peanut butter, all of which push her perilously close to waters edge.
Met with lavish critical acclaim upon its 2000 world premiere at The Manhattan Theatre Club, Variety wrote "A most assuredly fresh and hilarious tragicomedy. Lindsay-Abaire's flair for the absurd combines nicely with an ability to pull laughs out of any situation. Absolutely hysterical." The New York Times echoed the sentiment: "Hefty laughter. Exceedingly whimsical and playfully wicked. A top drawer production;" while The Hollywood Reporter weighed in with "A wonderfully daffy, surreal extravaganza. Wonder of the World is a hilarious confection."
The production's 7-member ensemble cast features Elizabeth Bond, David Ghilardi, Jill Holden, Jen Ray, Paul Stroili, Kimberly Van Luin and Ian Vogt. Neil Wilson directs. Damon Fortier serves as Set Designer, with Lighting Design by Scott LeGrand, Costume Design by Jennifer Nickle, Sound Design by Cricket S. Myers, and Stage Management by Matthew Sandlin.
Wonder of the World will preview Thursday, September 24 and Friday, September 25 at 8:00 pm, followed by two opening performances Saturday, September 26 at 8:00 pm and Sunday, September 27 at 4:00 pm. Thereafter, the production will be presented Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday afternoons at 4:00 p.m through November 1. All tickets are priced at $22.00 and will be available for purchase online beginning Monday, August 16 at www.seaglasstheatre.org.
