NEWS RELEASE — LA NEW COURT THEATRE PRESENTS “ATLAS PIT or THE GARBAGE MAN’S SON” — OPENS FRIDAY 9/30 at 8pm

LOS ANGELES NEW COURT THEATRE
Theatre for Everyone Under the Sun
PRESENTS
THE WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCTION OF

ATLAS PIT
or THE GARBAGE MAN’S SON
WRITTEN BY ALEX BURKART
DIRECTED BY BETH LOPES
ORIGINAL SONGS BY KYLE ACHESON

SEPTEMBER 30 — OCTOBER 23
AT WORKING STAGE THEATER

Atlas Pit or the Garbage Man's SonLos Angeles New Court Theatre has announced its world premiere production of Atlas Pit or The Garbage Man’s Son, a new play by Alex Burkart at Working Stage Theater from September 30 through October 23. Directed by Beth Lopes and featuring original songs by Kyle Acheson, the cast will feature (in alphabetical order) Daniel Braunstein, Michael Chandler, Devereau Chumrau, Herman Johansen, Josey Montana McCoy, and Nancy Stone. Opening is set for Friday, September 30 at 8pm and the strictly limited engagement of 12 performances will run through October 23 only.

Atlas Pit or The Garbage Man’s Son is the tale of 18-year-old Ozzy, whose girlfriend Gray drowns in an old gravel quarry in Milton, Wisconsin. Gray’s sudden death sends Ozzy into a severe depression; he runs away from home and shuts himself up in a seedy apartment. In his continued quest to find escape, Ozzy stumbles upon a brand of heroin that brings users so close to death that “they see those waiting for them on the other side.” Atlas Pit is inspired by the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice and explores the ideas of addiction, love, life, and faith. The scenic design is by Morgan Lindsey Price, lighting design is by Toranj Noroozi, costume design is by Emily Fisher, and sound design is by Isaiah Howell. The assistant director is Josh Gannon and the stage manager is Rebekah York.

Playwright Alex Burkart is a co-founder of the Los Angeles New Court Theatre and is currently its board president. He also works as the manager at ZBS Acting Studios. His acting work has been seen across the country, including the American premiere of Tom Stoppard’s Pirandello’s Henry IV at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Adam Sandler’s Jack and Jill, and a reading of Edward Albee’s Me, Myself, and I at Playwrights Horizons alongside Elizabeth Ashley and Brian Murray. Burkart’s directing credits include Neil Simon’s Fools and Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night for Los Angeles New Court Theatre as well as It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play for TheatreVCU. Originally from Wisconsin, Atlas Pit has been a bold and personal stroke for him; it is his first full-length play. For more, visit www.alexburkart.com.

Director Beth Lopes directed last year’s Jason & (Medea) for Los Angeles New Court Theatre. Some of her recent projects include Hamlet with New Swan Shakespeare Festival, The Winter’s Tale with San Antonio Shakespeare in the Park, and the development of the new rock musical The Merry Lives of Windsor High with Los Angeles company mediaV. For more, visit www.bethlopes.com.

The opening of The Atlas Pit or The Garbage Man’s Son is set for Friday, September 30 at 8pm. All seating is general admission and tickets are $20. The running schedule is Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 3pm through October 23 only. Tickets may be purchased online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2593462 or by calling (303) 619-0203.

Working Stage Theater is located at 1516 N. Gardner Street in Los Angeles. Street parking is available.

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08-30-16