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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Nan McNamara (323) 462-8460 [email protected] “There comes a moment in everybody’s life when he must decide whether he’ll live among human beings or not - a fool among fools or a fool alone.” - Dolly Levi Thornton Wilder’s Charming Farce, THE MATCHMAKER Opens May 10 at Actors Co-op April 24, 2013 . . . Hollywood, CA . . . Actors Co-op concludes its 21st Anniversary season with Thornton Wilder’s charming farce, THE MATCHMAKER. The production opens Friday, May 10 and performs through Sunday, June 16, 2013 in Actors Co-op’s David Schall Theatre. Ms. Heather Chesley directs. This witty, uproarious farce, complete with mistaken identities and hijinks galore, centers on businessman and penny-pincher Horace Vandergelder and his pursuit of love with the help of social hurricane and matchmaker extraordinaire, Mrs. Dolly Levi. THE MATCHMAKER was Thornton Wilder’s longest running Broadway play (486 performances) and was later adapted into the record-breaking musical HELLO, DOLLY! The works of Mr. Wilder - a three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning writer - explore the connection between the commonplace and the cosmic dimensions of the human experience. Director Heather Chesley believes the play is timeless. “THE MATCHMAKER is about making the choice to connect with human beings. Wilder isn’t just looking at any old connection, but specifically, he looks to emotional connection - love. I think the message is ageless. All of the characters are seeking adventure. Wilder does not let them succeed alone, they must find their match, to be excited for their futures together. The play reminds us that even if we are afraid, even if life feels crazy and unbalanced, stepping toward love and healing will always bring out the best in human nature.” About the Playwright Born in 1897 in Madison, Wisconsin, and educated at Yale and Princeton, Thornton Wilder was an accomplished novelist and playwright. THE BRIDGE OF SAN LUIS REY, one of his seven novels, won the Pulitzer Prize in 1928, and his next-to-last novel, THE EIGHTH DAY received the National Book Award (1968). Two of his four major plays garnered Pulitzer Prizes: OUR TOWN (1938) and THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH (1943). Mr. Wilder also enjoyed enormous success with many other forms of the written and spoken word, among them translation, acting, opera librettos, lecturing, teaching and film (his screenplay for Alfred Hitchcock’s 1943 psycho-thriller, SHADOW OF A DOUBT remains a classic to this day). Letter writing held a central place in Mr. Wilder’s life, and since his death, three volumes of his letters have been published. Mr. Wilder’s many honors include the Gold Medal for Fiction from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the National Book Committee’s Medal for Literature. Mr. Wilder continues to be read and performed around the world. OUR TOWN is performed at least once each day somewhere in this country or abroad. About the Director Ms. Heather Chesley directs THE MATCHMAKER. Ms. Chesley directed last season’s critically-acclaimed production of THE LEARNED LADIES (Pick of the Week LA Weekly, Critic’s Pick - Backstage West). She also directed the Co-op Too! production of TRAILS, presented as part of the Festival of New American Musicals. Her other credits include co-directing COMPANY WE KEEP for the Minnesota Fringe Festival, as well as the west coast premiere of Aline Brosh McKenna's, INSIDE LOIS. She served as the Assistant Artistic Director for The Hampstead Players Theater Company. Ms. Chesley has been Artistic Chairperson of the Actors Co-op for four years where her responsibilities include overseeing play selections. She produced the new musical MAKIN' HAY, as well as MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, both for Actors Co-op. Additional members of the Award-winning creative team include Set Designer Stephen Gifford (recipient of The Bob Z Award by the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle), Costume Designer Vicki Conrad (winner of the 2012 LA Weekly Award), Lighting Designer Lisa D. Katz, Choreographer Julie Hall, Sound Designer Fritz Davis, Property Designer Nicholas Acciani and Wig Designer Krys Fehervari. Lauren Goyer is the Stage Manager for THE MATCHMAKER. THE MATCHMAKER is produced by David Scales. In 2010, Mr. Scales produced the critically-acclaimed production of WIT, which garnered several accolades from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, in addition to the LA WEEKLY Award for Revival Production of the Year. In 2012, he produced the American Premiere of YOURS, ISABEL by Christy Hall. From 2006-2008, David produced the annual theatrical benefit SNAPSHOTS, a collection of romantic comedy one-act plays supporting the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Three-Day Walk and highlighting the talents of local artists. SNAPSHOTS has played throughout Los Angeles (Odyssey Theater, National Comedy Theater, Pico Playhouse & the Stella Adler Theater) and, to date, has raised over $35,000 for the cause. Additional producing credits include: SERENADING LOUIE, BALM IN GILEAD, THE ART OF DINING, HAMLET, & LAUGHTER ON THE 23RD FLOOR. An award-winning actor, David recently played Jamie in the Actors Co-op production of LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT. The talented acting ensemble of THE MATCHMAKER includes Joe Barone, Lori Berg, Katie Buderwitz, Dimitri Christy, Michael Dye, Jeff Fazakerley, Matthew Gilmore, Ellis Greer, Brian Habicht, Robert Henry, Deborah Marlowe, Rory Patterson, Lauren Thompson and Coy Benning Wentworth. Schedule Opening night of THE MATCHMAKER is Friday, May 10, 2013. Regular performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2:30 pm. Additional Saturday matinees are scheduled for May 18 and June 16 at 2:30 pm. THE MATCHMAKER closes Sunday, June 15, 2013. Tickets Regular admission $30, Seniors $25, Students $20. Group rates available (minimum of 6 people). For reservations call (323) 462-8460 ext. 300 or reserve online at www.ActorsCoop.org About Actors Co-op Actors Co-op operates two 99-seat Equity-approved theatres on the campus of First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood. Actors Co-op began on January 9th, 1987, with a dozen actors. Currently, its membership exceeds 50 professionals. Since the Crossley Theatre opened its doors in April of 1989 and its second theatre, the David Schall Theatre (formerly known as the Crossley Terrace Theatre) opened February of 1995, Actors Co-op has produced over 80 main stage productions, over 35 Second Stage productions, staged readings of original works, and has received 125 Drama-Logue Awards, 32 LA Weekly Award nominations (7 wins), 30 Theatre Ovation Award nominations (2 wins), 5 Backstage West Garland Awards and 19 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards nominations (5 wins). In addition, Actors Co-op was honored with the Margaret Harford Award for “Sustained Achievement” in smaller theatre from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle as well as the Charlie Award for “Excellence in the Arts” by the Hollywood Arts Council. Location Actors Co-op is located at 1760 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, CA 90028, on the campus of First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, one block north of Hollywood Boulevard, just off the Gower Street exit of the 101 Hollywood Freeway. Free, well-lit parking is available on Carlos Street (½ block east of Gower). Entrance to the theaters is directly across the street from the Carlos Street parking lot. ###