LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE “THEATRE FOR A NEW GENERATION” PRESENTS I NEVER SAW ANOTHER BUTTERFLY

Laguna Playhouse “Theatre For A New Generation” brings back I NEVER SAW ANOTHER BUTTERFLY by Celeste Raspanti and directed by Donna Inglima.  This powerful and important play returns to the Playhouse as the country, (and Orange County), sees a dramatic rise in the number of Anti-Semitic acts of hatred.  I NEVER SAW ANOTHER BUTTERFLY will perform beginning Saturday, October 19 through Sunday, October 27 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Drive in Laguna Beach.

Over 15,000 Jewish children passed through Terezin, and only about a hundred were still alive when Terezin was liberated at the end of the war. One of the survivors, Raja, having lived through it all, teaching the children when there was nothing to teach with, helping to give them hope when there was little enough reason for hope, creating a little world of laughter, of flowers and butterflies behind the barbed wire, tells the true story of the children. It's her play and it's theirs. There were no butterflies at Terezin, of course, but for the children, butterflies became a symbol of defiance, making it possible for them to live on and play happily while waiting to be transported. 

Produced by special arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois.

Says Director of Education & Outreach Dylan Russell: “Part of what makes the Laguna Playhouse Conservatory such a unique place to train is the opportunity for young performers to work with professional directors, to work with adult actors from the community and be exposed to sophisticated and challenging material that features young characters, themes, and perspectives. Celeste Raspanti’s historical docudrama continues to hold powerful messages for our world today.  I am thrilled to have Donna Inglima at the helm to lead this group of talented actors. Her experience and expertise will provide students with an incredible foundation for future acting endeavors.” 

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM
CELESTE RASPANTI (Playwright) comes to the theatre with experience in producing, directing, performing and teaching. Her published and produced plays include full-length and short plays, the book and lyrics for an operetta, children's plays, religious drama and chamber theatre scripts. She also publishes articles in academic and professional journals. Her special dramatic and historical interest is the Holocaust. She brought the Holocaust to the stage with I Never Saw Another Butterfly, No Fading Star and The Terezin Promise, enriching these dramas with her firsthand information of the camps from visits, oral histories and her friendship with survivors. A retired university professor, Raspanti lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she continues to write and publish. 

DONNA INGLIMA (Director) recently served as the Director of Youth Theatre, Education and Outreach at Laguna Playhouse, a position she held for 20 years. She is a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers and of Actors’ Equity Association. She served on the Drama faculty of Syracuse University, University College, Utica College and the American Musical and Drama Academy in New York.  She was the Director of the Apprentice Program at the Berkshire Theatre Festival and Artistic Associate for the American Playwrights Theatre in New York.  For Laguna Playhouse, she served as director, teacher, writer, producer and actress. She’s directed over 50 plays and has built the curriculum- based TYA Professional outreach program, TheatreReach: Bringing Books to Life. She’s adapted plays for the touring program as well as for the Youth Theatre stage; The Sign of the Beaver, Island of the Blue Dolphins, Give a Boy a Gun, and By the Great Horn Spoon!  Donna founded Animal Crackers Unlimited, a troupe that produced plays for adults and youth in upstate New York. She received her MFA in Theatre from Syracuse University. In 2017 she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Laguna Beach Arts Alliance.

The creative team for I NEVER SAW ANOTHER BUTTERFLY includes Christophe Caputo (Scenic Designer), Kaitlyn Kaufman (Costume Designer), Glenn Powell (Lighting/Projection Designer), and Emma Rice (Sound Designer). 

ABOUT THE SCHEDULE AND PRICING
I NEVER SAW ANOTHER BUTTERFLY will perform beginning Saturday, October 19 through Sunday October 27 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Drive in Laguna Beach. 
Performances will be Saturdays at 1pm & 5pm; Sundays at 1:00pm; Thursday, October 24 & Friday, October 25 at 7pm.  There will be two student matinees Thursday, October 24 & Friday, October 25 at 10am.

Tickets range from $15 - $25 and can be purchased online at www.lagunaplayhouse.com or by calling (949) 497-ARTS (2787). Group discounts are available by calling 949-497-2787 ext. 229.  Prices subject to change.  

The box office is open Mondays – Saturdays: 11a.m. to 5p.m.; Sundays: 11a.m. – 4p.m. (open until showtime on all performance days).

For more information on all shows and programming visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com.  LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE is located at 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.     

To schedule press interviews, photos or press comps, please contact David Elzer/DEMAND PR at 818/508-1754 or by e-mail at davidelzer@me.com.    

Laguna Playhouse Conservatory & Youth Theatre is a locally-recognized professional theater training program for young people between the ages of 8 and 19. Young actors who attend the Conservatory develop their creative talent, perform in professional-caliber productions, and learn confidence and communication skills. 

Under the direction of Dylan Russell, the Conservatory offers dynamic courses throughout the year for both beginners exploring acting for the first time and young actors with previous experience. Classes are designed to develop imagination, concentration, character, professionalism, and technique, and to strengthen the student’s command of their body, voice and creativity.    

Founded in 1920, the historic Laguna Playhouse is one of the oldest continuously-operating not-for-profit theatres on the West Coast and is proud to be an active participant in the celebrated Laguna Beach arts community. From classic plays and musical comedies to the current off-Broadway smash, cutting edge and traditional music exhibitions, dance festivals and stand-up comedy performances, Laguna Playhouse brings the magical experience of the performing arts direct to over 100,000 patrons each season. 

Laguna Playhouse educational programming includes year-round classes, productions by and for children and teens (Youth Theatre) and is one of the few companies in the region that offer a curriculum-based professional theatre-touring program, TheatreReach, which aligns with the California State Standards for literature, history and performing arts curriculum. 

Laguna Playhouse has been recognized in 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015 as one of Orange County Register’s “Best of OC” in the category of Live Theatre. The Laguna Playhouse has featured many talented performers on stage, including Ed Asner, Leslie Caron, Hershey Felder, Melanie Griffith, Val Kilmer, Gregory Harrison, Dan Lauria, Hal Linden, Wendie Malick, Rita Rudner, Charles Shaughnessy, French Stewart, Loretta Swit, and Bette Davis. 

Learn What’s Going On at www.lagunaplayhouse.com.