Bryony Lavery's "Frozen" presented at Chance Theater in Anaheim

British playwright Bryony Lavery's acclaimed drama follows three people from very different worlds whose lives are connected by the disappearance of a ten-year-old child. The missing girl's mother retreats into a state of frozen hope; the convicted murderer becomes the subject of a new psychological study; and the doctor who is conducting the study searches for a reason why evil happens, and if there is still room for forgiveness, remorse and change after an act that would seem to rule them out entirely. Drawn together by horrific circumstances, these three embark on a long, dark journey which finally curves upward into the light.

Under the imaginative directorial guidance of The Chance’s Artistic Director, Oanh Nguyen, Frozen will open on Sunday, May 13, 2007 and run for a total of 11 performances through June 17, 2007. Show times are Saturdays at 4:00 p.m., and Sundays at 6:00 p.m. There will be a Post-Performance “Talkback” Discussion with the cast and designers on Sunday, May 27 at 6:00 p.m. For all general performances, tickets are $25 General Admission, and $22 for Seniors and Students with I.D. A $20 Preview Performance is scheduled for May 3 at 4:00 p.m. The Opening Gala on Sunday, May 12 at 6:00 p.m. will include a champagne reception after the performance. Additionally, a special “Show & Dinner with Cast & Crew” event is scheduled for Saturday, May 26. A Dinner and Show package with Yves' Bistro and Café Europe is also available.

Frozen was first seen in Britain at Birmingham Rep in 1998. Significant success ensued when the play was presented at the National Theatre in London and received the prestigious Barclay Award for Best New Play of 1998. Off-Broadway and Broadway runs followed in 2004. Nominated for four Tony Awards, including Best Play, Frozen was described by The New York Post as “… a true and enthralling theatrical experience. It makes you feel, and might even make you think.” “A fine play…so concentrated and unflinching that at times it takes your breath away,” declared the London Observer. Frozen has become one of the most widely-produced plays in the country and worldwide.

As explained by playwright Bryony Lavery, ”Frozen presents both forgiveness and revenge as options…and I think it is fairly clear that the two roads have difficulties…but I think if we can encourage our audiences to rehearse the act of mercy…it feels good in our fibre and bones and guts.” According to Lavery, the play’s title resulted when she ”realized that the piece was about very, very lonely discoveries by the characters. And that they should be kept frozen from each other for as long as possible, until we realize that they all have different lonely chunks of ice inside them.”

Director Oanh Nguyen elaborates, “That is the power of this play – discovery and what makes us human, a haunting journey of three characters struggling with frozen emotional states of being resulting from some of the darkest acts and concerns imaginable. It is a compelling work for us to present as a theater and for our audiences to stop and consider.”

In 1999, Oanh Nguyen co-founded The Chance Theater, where he is currently Artistic Director. Recent directorial projects include Inventing Van Gogh, Into The Woods (Back Stage West Critic’s Pick), The Last Five Years, The Laramie Project, Cabaret (Back Stage West Critic’s Pick), and Porcelain (2006 GLAAD Media Award Nomination for Outstanding Los Angeles Theater, Back Stage West Critic’s Pick, and O.C. Register’s Top Ten of 2005).
The cast features the following Chance Theater Resident Company Members: Jonathon Lamer, who just appeared in our acclaimed production of Inventing Van Gogh; and Karen Webster, who was recently seen in Coyote On A Fence (Back Stage West Critic’s Pick). Joining them will be Jennifer Ruckman, making her Chance Theater debut. Chance Theater Resident Company Member Annie Mezzacappa will also be appearing as the Nancy Shirley understudy.

If you would like to arrange an interview with the director, cast, would like more information, or reservations, please call 714-777-3033.

About The Chance Theater
A recent recipient of the 2007 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle (LADCC) Special Award for Excellence, The Chance Theater is now in its Ninth Anniversary Season. A vital component of The Chance Theater’s mission has always been to intimately present personally meaningful, uniquely engaging stories that promote dialogue within our community and provide a visceral experience for theatergoers. As a constituent member of Theater Communications Group (TCG) and Network of Ensemble Theaters (NET), The Chance continues to bring national attention to Southern California theater through its recent achievement. In addition to the recent LADCC Award, The Chance has also received a 2006 GLAAD Media Award nomination for Outstanding Los Angeles Theater; recognition as the 2004 Arts Orange County Outstanding Arts Organization; and participated in the 365 Days/365 Plays National Theater Project.