Latino playwright's political story performed in English

Guillermo Calderon, Playwrite

Perspectives drive the English version of a powerful play.

     CULVER CITY, CA -- “Neva,” Guillermo Calderón’s politically charged play, will open Wednesday, June 12 as a DouglasPlus event at the Center Theatre Group/Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. “Neva,” which is presented in collaboration with South Coast Repertory and La Jolla Playhouse, will be performed in the theatre’s rehearsal room, Upstairs @ KDT, and will play for eight performances only through June 16, 2013 (including one preview on June 11).

     “Neva,” which is also directed by Calderón, features Sue Cremin, Ruth Livier and Ramón de
Ocampo. Sandra Burns is the set consultant and costume designer; casting is by Mark B. Simon, Joanne DeNaut and Dana Harrel. The production stage manager is Kirsten Parker.

Sue Cremin

Ramon de Ocampo

Ruth Livier

    Chile’s Teatro en el Blanco’s Spanish language production of “Neva” was one of the highlights of the Radar L.A. festival in June 2011. The DouglasPlus production is the West Coast premiere of the English translation by Andrea Thome.

     In a haunting look at theatre and the revolutionary impulse, “Neva” takes audiences to St. Petersburg in 1905. Anton Chekhov’s widow, the actress Olga Knipper, is huddled with fellow actors in a dimly lit rehearsal room, while striking workers are being gunned down by the tsarist regime in the streets outside.

     “Neva,” said Charles McNulty of the Los Angeles Times, “. . . culminates in a cascading monologue of revolutionary fervor that is, in its critique of bourgeoisie stage pretension, unlike anything I’ve experienced in the theatre.” Steven Leigh Morris placed “Neva” at the top of his list of best theatre experiences in 2011, calling the piece “. . . nothing short of a conjuring.”

     Tickets for “Neva” are available at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org, the CTG box office located at the Ahmanson Theatre or at the Kirk Douglas Theatre box office two hours prior to the performance, or by calling (213) 628-2772. Tickets are $30 (ticket prices are subject to change). The Kirk Douglas Theatre is located at 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232.