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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact (for media only): Lucy Pollak
[email protected] (818) 887-1499
Sparks fly in more ways than one in world premiere
of ‘Back Porch’ at Victory Theatre Center
BURBANK, Calif. (April 20, 2023) — Life imitates art when Hollywood descends upon a small Kansas town in 1955 to shoot scenes for the classic film, Picnic. Bluestem Productions presents the world premiere of Back Porch, written by Eric Anderson and directed by Kelie McIver. Performances take place June 2 through July 9 (Pride Month) at The Victory Theatre Center in Burbank.
Sparks fly in more ways than one in Anderson’s delightful homage to both movie making and the play that inspired the Columbia film. Barney Opat (Karl Maschek) is the widowed father of two boys: 18-year-old Gary (Isaac W. Jay), who yearns to escape small-town Kansas life for a more glamorous existence, and energetic 13-year-old Del Wayne (Cody Lemmon). The family’s life is upended when a handsome stranger working as William Holden’s stunt double (Jordan Morgan) blows into town alongside the all-star Picnic cast. Other characters include the Opats’ bachelor boarder, singing teacher Myron Uhrig (Eric Zak), and their neighbor, Millard Goff (Jonathan Fishman).
“When I was four years old, portions of the film Picnic were filmed one county away from my home,” says the Kansas born-and-bred Anderson. “My family drove to the location one evening to take part in the “Neewollah” scene on the river. I’ve been crazy about movies — and theater — ever since. With Back Porch, I wanted to pay tribute to a significant American playwright who was also significantly closeted. I hoped to write the kind of play that he himself might have written had he lived in another time and place.”
“Back Porch is a love letter to William Inge, and it’s also a terrific ensemble piece in which each character has an interesting and beautiful arc,” says McIver, who also hails from Kansas. “I love them all and want to hang out with them.”
The creative team for Back Porch includes set designer Kenny Klimak, lighting designer Carol Doehring, sound designer Cinthia Nava, costume designer Molly Martin, hair designer Judi Lewin, stunt/fight choreographer Brett Elliott and intimacy director Amanda Rose Villarreal. The stage manager is Margaret Magula. David Willis and Kelie McIver produce for Bluestem Productions.
Anderson graduated from the University of Kansas with an M.A. in theater, then moved to Minneapolis, where his plays were produced at the Illusion Theatre, Park Square Theatre, Lagniappe Theatre, Theatre in the Round and Children’s Theatre. He has written plays for National Public Radio, and was a founding member of the Playwrights Center. He and his husband now live in Hawaii, where his plays have been produced at Kumu Kahua Theatre and The Actors Group in Honolulu, as well as at the University of Hawaii in Hilo. Currently he is collaborating with composer Kim Sherman on an opera based on the Willa Cather stories “Song of the Lark” and “The Sculptor’s Funeral.” Up next will be the premiere of his latest play, Olive’s Lover, at The Actors Group Honolulu in the fall of this year.
Performances of Back Porch take place on Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 4 p.m. from June 2 through July 9. All tickets are $25. The Victory Theatre Center is located at 3324 W. Victory Blvd in Burbank, CA 91505. For information and to purchase tickets, call (818) 533-1611 or go to onstage411.com/BackPorch.
Details for Calendar Listings
‘Back Porch’
WHAT:
Bluestem Productions presents the world premiere of Back Porch, a new comedy by Eric Anderson. Life imitates art when Hollywood descends upon a small Kansas town in 1955 to shoot scenes for the classic film, Picnic. Sparks fly in more ways than one in Anderson’s delightful homage to both movie making and the play that inspired the Columbia film.
WHO:
• Written by Eric Anderson
• Directed by Kelie McIver
• Starring Jonathan Fishman, Isaac W. Jay, Cody Lemmon, Karl Maschek, Jordan Morgan, Eric Zak
• Produced by David Willis and Kelie McIver
• Presented by Bluestem Productions
WHEN:
June 2 – July 9:
• Fridays at 8 p.m.: June 2 (opening night); June 9; June 16; June 23; June 30; July 7
• Saturdays at 8 p.m.: June 3; June 10; June 17; June 24; July 1; July 8
• Sundays at 4 p.m.: June 4; June 11; June 18; June 25; July 2; July 9
WHERE:
The Victory Theatre Center
3326 W Victory Blvd
Burbank, CA 91505
TICKET PRICE:
$25
HOW:
onstage411.com/BackPorch
(818) 533-1611
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