Written by Samuel D. Hunter/ Directed by Andrew Weyman
Opening at 8pm Saturday, December 2, 2023
Reception to Follow
703 Venice Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
Los Angeles, CA (Revised November 30, 2023) – OBIE Award winning playwright Samuel D. Hunter’s A PERMANENT IMAGE opens at Pacific Resident Theatre on Saturday, December 2, 2023.
Those traditionally joyous and colorful holidays are approaching and members of an estranged family from a small town in Idaho gather to bury the family patriarch. Siblings Bo and Ally are stunned to see how their childhood home has been “decorated” for the occasion. When Mom delivers a surprising twist, we start to see a method behind this madness. A fusion between realism and the absurd, A Permanent Image is an intensive comedic and dramatic exploration of the distance families put between themselves, and what it takes to bring them back together.
Scott Jackson, Terry Davis, Dalia Vosylius (photo by Alex Moy)
Hunter’s plays have a recurring idea about the human experience and connection through love and isolation filtered through the perspective of various characters living in Idaho where Hunter was born and raised.
“I’m an admirer of Samuel D. Hunter’s work and thought how wonderful it would be to explore the tonal possibilities when dealing with serious subject matter that sneakily transitions from the real to the absurd. I love a challenge and if a project doesn’t frighten me then I feel it’s not worth getting involved. I’m thrilled to be frightened and to be directing this play at PRT,” says Andrew Weyman.
Samuel D. Hunter (Playwright) is the recipient of a 2014 MacArthur “Genius Grant” Fellowship for his work as a playwright. His full-length plays include The Whale (Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play, GLAAD Media Award, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle nominations for Best Play, Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Actor), A Case for the Existence of God (New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Play), A Bright New Boise (Obie Award, Drama Desk nomination for Best Play), Greater Clements (Drama Desk nomination for Best Play, Outer Critics Circle Honoree), Lewiston / Clarkston (Drama Desk nomination for Best Play), The Few, A Great Wilderness, Rest, Pocatello, The Healing, and The Harvest, among others. In the film version of The Whale, directed by Darren Aronofsky, actor Brendan Fraser won the Academy Award, Critics’ Choice Award and SAG Award for Best Actor. Hunter is the recipient of a 2012 Whiting Writers Award and an honorary doctorate from the University of Idaho. He is a member of New Dramatists and a current Resident Playwright at the Signature Theatre in New York City. He holds degrees in playwriting from NYU, The Iowa Playwrights Workshop, and Juilliard.
Andrew Weyman (Director) directed at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center for several seasons, helping playwrights develop their new works at National and International Playwrights Conferences. He won an Emmy for his direction on the NBC series Texas. Andrew followed his win with stints directing the series Santa Barbara and the family comedy My Two Dads, the latter starring Paul Reiser and Greg Evigan. He spent two years as director on the long-running sitcom Roseanne, and after leaving the show directed series such as Ellen, Cybill, Bette, Still Standing and Two and a Half Men. In 2010 he began directing Accidentally on Purpose, starring Jenna Elfman and co-created by Two and a Half Men mastermind Chuck Lorre.
The Cast: Phil Cass (Martin), Terry Davis (Carol), Scott Jackson (Bo), Dalia Vosylius (Ally).
The Creative Team: Michael Franco (Lighting Design), Andrew Weyman (Scenic Design),Susan Wilder (Costume Design), Keith Stevenson (Sound Design), James Morris (Projection Design).
Pacific Resident Theatre is nationally recognized as one of the top regional theaters on the West Coast. The company presents works of the highest quality, in order to entertain, inform and educate its multicultural community. In addition to the company’s commitment to rediscover the rarely performed classics, PRT is focused on fostering and developing new works through the collaboration of an artistic ensemble influenced by societal relevance, past, present and future. Pacific Resident Theatre promotes the theatre arts by providing opportunities for artists and craftsmen to develop and enrich their skills.
“A PERMANENT IMAGE” opens at 8pm on Saturday, December 2 and runs
through January 14, 2024 (check website for schedule). Pacific Resident Theatre is located at 703 Venice Blvd, Venice, CA 90291. Street parking or limited free lot behind building. Tickets start at $35 online https://pacificresidenttheatre.org/ or call (310) 822-8392.
EVENT DETAILS FOR CALENDAR: Run time is approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes (including one 10-minute intermission)
WHAT: “A Permanent Image”
Playwright: Samuel D. Hunter
Director: Andrew Weyman
Assistant Director: Susan Wilder
Presented by Pacific Resident Theatre
DESCRIPTION: Those traditionally joyous and colorful holidays are approaching and members of an estranged family from a small town in Idaho gather to bury the family patriarch. Siblings Bo and Ally are stunned to see how their childhood home has been “decorated” for the occasion. When Mom delivers a surprising twist, we start to see a method behind this madness. A fusion between realism and the absurd, A Permanent Image is an intensive comedic and dramatic exploration of the distance families put between themselves, and what it takes to bring them back together.
WHERE: Pacific Resident Theatre
703 Venice Blvd.
Venice, CA 90291
Street parking or small free lot in back: https://pacificresidenttheatre.org/18272-2/
WHEN: Performances begin December 2, 2023
Closing: January 14, 2024
Schedule:
Sunday, December 3 – 3pm
Thursday, December 7 – 8pm
Friday, December 8 – 8pm
Saturday, December 9 – 8pm
Sunday, December 10 – 3pm
Saturday, December 16 – 8pm
Sunday, December 17 – 3pm
Thursday, December 21 – 8pm
Friday, December 22 – 8pm
Friday, January 5 – 8pm
Saturday, January 6 – 8pm
Sunday, January 7 – 3pm
Thursday, January 11 – 8pm
Friday, January 12 – 8pm
Saturday, January 13 – 8pm
Sunday, January 14 – 3pm
HOW: Reservations online: https://pacificresidenttheatre.org/
Phone: (310) 822-8392
HOW MUCH: Tickets $35
55 years+ Discount $10; Student Rush at door $12;
$12 Student rush offered at door.
Facebook: PacificResidentTheatre / Twitter: @PacificResThtr / Instagram: @pacificresidenttheatre / Website: https://pacificresidenttheatre.org/
