One of our cover stories this month features the Repertory East Playhouse and their 2009 season launch of the American classic A Streetcar Named Desire, written by Tennessee Williams and sponsored by Jill Jackson and Dessert Alert.  “This is a classic piece of American literature by the finest American playwright in history.  It is an honor to be able to have this magnificent piece on our stage.  We are all very excited for this production,” says Artistic Director Ovington Michael Owston.
Since its opening night, the play, which garnered the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1947, has reached a wide audience, partly through stage productions, but perhaps more from the classic movie version in 1951, starring Marlon Brando as Stanley and Vivien Leigh as Blanche.  It also has been produced on television, and the play has been staged widely.

The play reveals to the very depths the character of Blanche du Bois, a woman whose life has been undermined by her romantic illusions, which lead her to reject—so far as possible—the realities of life with which she is faced and which she consistently ignores.  The pressure brought to bear upon her by her sister, with whom she goes to live in New Orleans, intensified by the earthy and extremely “normal” young husband of the latter leads to a revelation of her tragic self-delusion and, in the end, to madness.  This celebrated play had a long and successful run on Broadway.  It is a tragic and effective drama, which ranks as one of the greatest in American theater.

Leading the cast in the iconic principal characters are Erin Michaels, Ted Jones, and Nicole Dionne.  REP newcomers Jack Impellizzeri, Mary Watson, Joe Palumbo and local favorites Lori D’Itri, Tyrone (Tippy) Washington, Carlo Pietrosanti, Nolan LeGault, Bill Quinn and Laura Clark Greaver round out the cast of this American classic.

A Streetcar Named Desire will run through February 21.  Showtimes are Friday and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.  (There is no show Sunday February 1.) Tickets are $18 for adults and $16 for students and seniors.  Group rates are available.  Advanced reservations are highly recommended.

The REP will host post-show discussions immediately following each Sunday matinee.  Join the cast and crew for an intimate discussion about the process of creating live theater. 

The Repertory East Playhouse is located at 24266 Main Street in Newhall. Purchase tickets online at www.repeastplayhouse.org or call 661-288-0000.