September 8, 2003 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Betty PR Joe Foster Janis Hashe ENSEMBLE STUDIO THEATRE-THE LA PROJECT PRESENTS THE WORLD PREMIERE OF THE SHORE BY ALISON TATLOCK GATES MCFADDEN OF "STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION" HEADS CAST EST-THE LA PROJECT OPENS ITS 2003-2004 SEASON AT BEAUTIFULLY RENOVATED STAGE 52 PLAYHOUSE Los Angeles, CA-September 8, 2003 -- Ensemble Studio Theatre-The LA Project proudly announces its first production of the 2003-2004 season: the world premiere of Alison Tatlock's hilarious and moving play The Shore, directed by Adam Prince with set by acclaimed designer Rachel Hauck. The cast is headed by Gates McFadden, best known internationally for the Paramount Studios series, "Star Trek: The Next Generation" where she created the role of Dr. Beverly Crusher in both the television series and films. Only the second play written by actor-writer Alison Tatlock, and her first play to be produced, The Shore explores how the upper class Tenney family of suburban New Jersey deals with the impending death of its matriarch. The play illuminates how the secrets in all families can protect and also imprison us. Brimming with humor, this beautifully crafted new work moves quickly toward a powerful and surprising conclusion. It is presented with major support from The Annenberg Foundation. "The Shore demonstrates all the hallmarks of a mature work: a brave theatricality, confident original voice, complex believable characters, universal themes, and the ability to experiment with and transcend traditional play structure. In short, we believe this play is the work of a major new playwriting talent," says Co-Artistic Director Laura Jane Salvato. Now entering its second decade in Los Angeles, Ensemble Studio Theatre-The LA Project is best known for its wide-ranging play development programs. During the past three years, under the Artistic Direction of Michael C. Mahon and Laura Jane Salvato, Ensemble Studio Theatre-The LA Project has also emerged as one of Los Angeles most exciting producing theatres. The LA Project burst onto the producing scene in March 2000 with Michael Connor's Berkshire Village Idiot presented at the Gascon Centre Theater. A critical success, this solo performance piece transfers to Off-Broadway's Zipper Theater this month. Last season, the company produced the Ovation and LA Weekly Award-nominated And Still the Dogs by Brian Cousins at the Lillian Theatre, directed by Dan Bonnell. Most recently, The LA Project presented the world premiere of Jacqueline Wright's dark comedy Buddy Buddette directed by Matt Almos for an extended run at the McCadden Place Theatre in Hollywood. "This is our first production at the Stage 52 Playhouse, where we will be presenting our mainstage season this year. We are extremely excited to be working with owners David Austin and Thomas Duckett, presenting The Shore at their beautifully renovated and air-conditioned 99-seat space," says Co-Artistic Director Michael Mahon. Ensemble Studio Theatre-The LA Project has assembled an exciting team for The Shore, with director Adam Prince at the helm. Mr. Prince studied directing, editing, cinematography and sound at Southern California's School of Cinema-Television where he won the school's top screenwriting awards and wrote and directed an award-winning thesis film. Adam is Director of Development for Robert Duvall's production company, Butchers Run Films, where he has worked on several independent films, including The Apostle. Award-winning stage and screen actors and Ensemble Studio Theatre members Gates McFadden ("Star Trek: The Next Generation," The Hunt for Red October) and Garrett M. Brown ("Roswell," "Sisters," Ani 1240) will head a cast that features Laura Jane Salvato and David Wiater. The Shore's design team includes Sound Designer Martin Carrillo (Buddy Buddette), Costume Designer Barbara Lempel (Skin of Our Teeth, Pentecost) Lighting Designer Rob Oriol (Richard III, Hamlet: The First Quarto ), and Scenic Designer Rachel Hauck. Hauck's extensive Off-Broadway, regional, and Los Angeles credits include The Public Theater's production of The Square and the Ovation Award-nominated The House of Bernarda Alba at The Mark Taper Forum. Writer Alison Tatlock's plays have been read in LA at the Black Dahlia, Circle West, and the Electric Lodge. Her play The Promenade was selected to launch the Powerhouse Theatre's New Theatre Project reading series. As an actor, Alison most recently appeared in the world premiere of Charles L. Mee's Songs of Joy and Destitution at The Open Fist Theater. Her New York acting credits include: An American Daughter (Lincoln Center/Broadway); The Secret History of the Lower East Side (En Garde Arts); Wally's Ghost (SoHo Rep, Obie Award for best play). Her film work includes Secretary, The Slaughter Rule, and The Cradle Will Rock, directed by Tim Robbins. She is a graduate of the University of California, San Diego and Yale University. The Shore launches The LA Project's 2003-2004 season and an exciting slate of productions that also includes the world premiere of L. Trey Wilson's Stage Directions to be presented in January and February as part of the Hot Properties @ [Inside] The Ford series. "Hot Properties" is a collaboration of the Los Angeles County Arts Commission and A.S.K. Theater Projects supported in part by a generous grant from The James Irvine Foundation. The LA Project will conclude their season at Stage 52 with the second annual MARATHON Festival of New One-Act Plays featuring four LA premieres to be announced shortly. Associate Produced for Ensemble Studio Theatre-The LA Project by Jacqueline Christy, and Isabel Storey PRODUCTION: The Shore by Alison Tatlock PREVIEWS: Thursday, October 2nd, 2003 OPENING: Friday, October 3rd - Opening & Press Night RUN: Thursdays through Sundays Closing: November 8th TIME: Thursday - Saturday 8:00 PM Sundays 2:00 PM ADMISSION: Previews $10 Thursday & Sunday $18 Friday & Saturday $20 RESERVATIONS: 213-368-9552 LOCATION: Stage 52 Playhouse 5299 West Washington Boulevard (between Farifax and LaBrea) *Free gated parking and plentiful street parking. WEBSITE: www.ensemblestudiotheatrela.org Ensemble Studio Theatre ? The LA Project is a proud founding member of PLAY7 ###