Timothy B. Dunn | Contributed
COACHELLA VALLEY REPERTORY presents the WORLD PREMIERE of SUMMER SESSION WITH THE BONES BRIGADE, a dramatic original work by playwright KIRBY FIELDS. The work was selected for production from among the entries in CVRep’s first ORIGINS: NEW WORKS PROGRAM. SUMMER SESSION WITH THE BONES BRIGADE is set in the American Midwest in the summer of 1988.
The play tells the story of four teenage skateboarders and their two female friends. When one of the group mysteriously disappears after a memorable July 4 skate session, the gang fears the worst and directs their feelings of guilt and shame against one another.
The circumstances surrounding the mystery are complicated and strain their relationships as they sort through their confusion and feelings. The Bones Brigade: Shane (Hagan Oliveras) is the unofficial leader of the group; Heath (Ethan David Zeph) prides himself on being an unrepentant badass; Lee (Alex Michell) takes pictures compulsively with his Polaroid in order to feel close to his recently deceased father; DK (Akiyo Komatsu) has just moved back to town and desperately wants to transcend his reputation as a “poser”; Loralai (Keeley Karsten) fears new experiences so much that she fabricates an overbearing mother to shield her from any decisions of her own; and Sid (Madeleine D. Hall) , who tries to live down to her reputation, with disastrous results.
SUMMER SESSION WITH THE BONES BRIGADE is being directed by Adam Karsten, with set design by Jimmy Cuomo, video designs by Nick Wass, costumes by Emma Bibo, lighting design by Moira Wilkie Whitaker. Stage manager is John M. Galo, movement director/choreographer is Karren Sieber. Coachella Valley Repertory Executive Artistic Director Adam Karsten said, “The goal of our Origins: New Works Project is to encourage today’s playwrights and to be a source of meaningful new works with contemporary settings and language. SUMMER SESSION WITH THE BONES BRIGADE is the first production from the project.
Playwright Kirby Fields has created a play that is set in our time, in today’s culture, while examining feelings and personal struggles that are timeless. We have a young cast of extraordinarily talented actors who can relate to the circumstances of the drama and are able to reveal the heart of SUMMER SESSION to us.” SUMMER SESSION WITH THE BONES BRIGADE runs December 6-17, 2023, with performances on Wednesdays & Saturdays at 2p.m. and 7 p.m., Thursdays & Fridays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Talkback Thursdays are held immediately after the second Thursday of each production, offering audience members the opportunity to discuss the plays with the directors and casts.
Talk Back Thursday for SUMMER SESSION WITH THE BONES BRIGADE will be December 14. Single tickets are $50-$88 and are on sale now and available online at www.cvrep.org, by calling (760) 296-2966, ext. 115, or at the CVRep box office located at 68510 East Palm Canyon Dr., Cathedral City. Box office hours are Tuesday-Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and two hours prior to performances. Group tickets are available and can be arranged by calling the box office.
In order to better serve audiences. The CVRep 2023-2024 Season is possible only because of the generous support of the following Season Sponsors: Eigh4Nine, Barbara Fremont, Sheila Harbet and Elissa Hapner, David Hood and George Sellers, Peggy Jacobs, John Monahan, Willie Rhine, Andrew van Niekerk, Willie’s, and Whittier Trust. Coachella Valley Repertory expresses its appreciation to The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation, Erica Hiller Carpenter, Nancy and Tom Cunningham, Walter Gendell and Jack Fitzsimmons, and Don Lupinetti. KGAY Is our Media Sponsor.
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