On Feb. 26, City Players enjoyed a spectacular opening night of the World Premiere drama “Utopia” written by and starring David Douglas and Martin Head, directed by Katherine Whitney.Opening night festivities were attended by Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey and members of the Royal Palms Recovery Center who provided rehearsal space for the production.
Due to ticket demand, “Utopia” has been extended for two additional performances on March 18-19 at 7:30 p.m. at the Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles.
Utopia is defined as an imaginary place where everything is perfect. But what does it take to achieve perfection in just two days? After investing his entire life savings into a condemned building, Martin Tomas, a 40-something burgeoning art impresario, is committed to establishing his name and his studio as a way to bring culture back to the neighborhood. He calls on David, his old art school friend, who’s made a small name for himself in the art world of Albuquerque, New Mexico, to ensure a successful opening of his new art space. Together the two are excited and hopeful, working to beat the clock and sharing laughs about family, life, and old times before old grudges and rivalries begin to surface.
A dispute between the two regarding a high profile police brutality case tests their friendship, further jeopardizing the show’s production. As they near the opening, it becomes clear that things inside the studio and within the community are a lot more complicated and violent than they appeared to be, driving each of them to suspect the other and question why they do what they do, and ultimately what kind of people they’ve become.
Featured in the “Utopia” cast are David Douglas and Martin Head, with voiceovers by Willie Mack Daniels, Reggie DeMorton, Robert Flores, Guebri J’aigle VanOver, Pamela Starks, and Gilbert Glenn Brown.
Tickets are $25 general admission and may be purchased at the Bootleg Theater box office one hour prior to performance or online at www.bootlegtheater.org. A limited number of half-price tickets are available on Goldstar. Please visit City Players on Facebook for more information.
City Players was developed in 2011 by alumni of Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy. Their first production, “Match” by Stephen Belber, was directed by Katherine Whitney and opened at the Asylum Theater followed by an extension at the Hayworth. “Utopia” marks City Players’ first original piece. Every facet of production is run by the Players, from acting, stage managing, sound, costume design, to directing and producing the show.
