Art Center Theater presents: A reading of: Elizondo: Coming of Age in Cuba by local writer Jim Littlejohn Thursday, December 2, 2010, 7:00 p.m. Coleman Auditorium Gualala Arts Center

Donations appreciated

Gualala Arts Center Theater will kick off its Experimental Theater division on Thursday, December 2, 2010, at 7:00 p.m. with a reading of the play Elizondo: Coming of Age in Cuba by local writer Jim Littlejohn.

When Arts Center Theater was first formed at Gualala Arts, founders Lynne Atkins and Kathye Hitt established an Experimental Theater arm to promote new plays and playwrights and to provide a venue for bringing new works to the public. They are hoping that this reading will be the first of many to come.

Getting a new play produced in its entirety is often a daunting procedure for playwrights. Theaters and directors are hesitant to spend the time and money required to stage a play on an unproven script. Having a venue where plays can be "read" by talented actors to gauge the interest of the public and get public feedback is of great benefit to a writer.

Elizondo is the story of a 16 year old Cuban boy whose life is torn asunder when his estranged grandfather re-enters his world. It examines the political forces at work in Cuba as Elizondo finds himself drawn into a political intrigue where his view of reality is turned upside down, and he is forced to grow up quickly or be swept away.

This is Littlejohn's first full-length play, and it is based largely on Armando Valladares' autobiography, Against All Hope, that he read some years ago. Jim has spent the last three years researching the events surrounding the book and corresponding with its author. In the process he says "I moved from a base of factual information to a fictional story of 'what if.' Characters were created not only to tell the story but to assist in its creation. I discovered that a character can take over his or her story and help shape its outcome."

Jim has assembled a experienced team of actors to bring his characters to life. Local audiences will recognize the voices of Sam Parsons, Corey Aitchison, Mike Turner, Sabina Walla, Richard Knarr, Ann Green, Dennis Carter, Remi Alexander, Joel Crockett, Rich Shimbor and Jon Carlo.

Please join us on Thursday, December 2 at 7:00 p.m. to hear this new work. The reading is free to the public, although donations to Gualala Arts to help defray overhead will be greatly appreciated.

The Gualala Arts Center, located at 46501 Old State Highway in Gualala, CA,
is open weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and weekends from noon to 4:00 p.m.
Please call (707) 884-1138 for more information, or email info@gualalaarts.org.

Serving the coastal communities of northern Sonoma & southern Mendocino Counties.