Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help
By Katie Forgette
Directed by Jenny Sullivan
From: Nancy Richards
nancy@northcoastrep.org
Office: 858-481-1055 ext.
SOCIAL UPHEAVALS CREATE TURMOIL IN FAMILY COMEDY
AT NORTH COAST REPERTORY THEATRE
INCIDENT AT OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP
Written by Katie Forgette
A San Diego Premiere Directed by Jenny Sullivan
Oct. 23 – NOW EXTENDED THROUGH Nov. 24, 2024
Solana Beach, Calif. – Embark on a delightful journey down memory lane as North Coast Repertory Theatre presents the San Diego Premiere of INCIDENT AT OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP. Set against the vibrant backdrop of the 1970s, Katie Forgette’s charming comedy unfolds within the confines of a working-class home. The quirky O’Shea clan navigates the tumultuous and sometimes awkward realities of this rapidly changing decade. This heartwarming play keeps audiences engaged and laughing, while delving into themes of faith, friendship, personal choices, and their values. Spend an unforgettable evening with the hilarious O’Shea clan.
Jenny Sullivan directs Samantha Gorjanc,* Erin Noel Grennan,* Shana Wride,* Abbi Hoffpauir, and Tom Dugan* in INCIDENT AT OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP. The Design Team includes Marty Burnett (Scenic Designer), Matthew Novotny (Lighting Designer), Elisa Benzoni (Costume Designer), Evan Eason (Sound Designer) and Peter Herman (Hair & Wigs). Christopher M. Williams* is the Stage Manager and Props Designer. Tyler Dean is the Production Assistant.
*The actor or stage manager appears through the courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association.
INCIDENT AT OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP previews begin on Wednesday, Oct. 23. Opening Night is set for Saturday, Oct. 26, at 8 pm. The play runs Wednesday, Oct. 23, NOW EXTENDED BY POPULAR DEMAND to Sunday, Nov. 24, with performances on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7 pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 pm and Sundays at 7 pm. Added matinee performances at 2pm on Friday, Oct. 25, and Wednesday, Nov. 13. A talkback session with the director and cast is scheduled for Nov. 1.
BIOS:
KATIE FORGETTE (Playwright) Katie spent most of her professional life as an actor. At the Seattle Repertory Theatre, she was privileged to work with such directors and playwrights as Doug Hughes, Bill Irwin, Mark O'Donnell, Dan Sullivan, John Patrick Shanley, Liviu Ciulei, Lillian Garrett-Groag and Jon Robin Baitz. Her plays include Linda Loman is Leaving, A Facility for Living, Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily, The O'Conner Girls, Everybody's A Critic, It Went Like This, The Body Snatcher and Welcome to Vital Vista Village. Her scripts have been produced at The Seattle Repertory Theatre, ACT Theatre, Manitoba Theatre Centre, CAP21, People's Light, Park Square Theatre, Barter Theatre, Austin Playhouse, Cortland Repertory Theatre, Dorset Theatre Festival, Vertigo Theatre, Taproot Theatre, Centenary Stage Company, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Bristol Valley Theater, Chenango River Theatre and Theatre 40. She lives in a tiny brick house in Seattle with her favorite husband, actor R. Hamilton Wright, and a giant, judgmental, gray cat named Eddie.
JENNY SULLIVAN (Director-SDC) is thrilled to add North Coast Rep to her list of favorite theaters: NYC Acorn and Wallis Annenberg productions of Tom Dugan’s Wiesenthal. Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre: The Dresser (Len Cariou and Granville Van Dusen). Geffen Playhouse: Love, Loss, and What I Wore. Laguna Playhouse: The Year of Magical Thinking (Linda Purl), I Am My Own Wife, Steel Magnolias. Rubicon Theatre: The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Twilight: Los Angeles 1992, A Moon for the Misbegotten, The Rainmaker, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. ETC of SB: The Mystery of Irma Vep, Good People, Tea at Five, Lion in Winter, Clean House, The Legend of Georgia McBride, The Children. Premiere of Jane Anderson’s The Baby Dance: Pasadena Playhouse, Williamstown, Long Wharf (CT Critics’ Directing Award), Lucille Lortel Theatre. Film: “Access All Areas”, “The Next Best Thing” (in which she had the good fortune to direct her father Barry). Jenny’s most proud of her play J for J starring the late great John Ritter.
(IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)
SAMANTHA GORJANC* (Linda O’Shea) is so excited to be making her San Diego theatre debut with this show. Originally from the Bay Area, Samantha currently spends most of her time in New York. Previous credits include Ragtime - 25th Anniversary Concert (Mother u/s), To Sir, With Love (Tara), Much Ado...(Bea), This Random World (Bernadette), and more. She is a proud member of Actors' Equity. instagram: @samanthagorjanc.
ERIN NOEL GRENNAN* (Josephine ‘Jo’ O’Shea) is delighted to return to North Coast Rep after appearing last season as Olga in The Angel Next Door. Regional: The Outsider (premiere) at Paper Mill Playhouse; Reckless at Cincinnati Playhouse; Unnecessary Farce (premiere), Wit at Boarshead Theatre; Timon of Athens at Chicago Shakespeare; A Moon for the Misbegotten, Blithe Spirit, Taming of the Shrew at First Folio; Christmas Carol at Geva; A Flea in Her Ear, The Foreigner, The Man Who Came To Dinner at Drury Lane; Noises Off at Totem Playhouse; Petrified Forest, Making God Laugh (premiere), Miracle On South Division at TATC; King O’ The Moon at Mercury; eight seasons with Peninsula Players Theatre, two seasons with Gaiety Theatre, Ireland. TV: “The Other Two,“ “Dr. Death,” “Bull,” “Law & Order,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “Blue Bloods,” “FBI: Most Wanted,” “Chicago,” “Chicago Fire,” and umpteen commercials. Big love to Paul, as always. For Mom, who would’ve adored this play. erinnoelgrennan.com
SHANA WRIDE* (Theresa “Terri” Carmichael) is a San Diego based actor and director who has been involved in many shows at North Coast Repertory Theatre, most recently as the Director of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. She has also worked with The Old Globe Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles, Diversionary Theatre, Cygnet Theatre, The San Diego Symphony, Intrepid Theatre, Moxie Theatre, Compass Theatre, The Colony Theatre, Open Fist Theatre, San Diego Repertory Theatre, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Gaslamp Quarter Theatre, and Sledgehammer Theatre. While living in Los Angeles, she co-hosted the nationally syndicated radio show, “Women Aloud,” with actor/comedienne Mo Gaffney. shanawride.com
ABBI HOFFPAUIR (Becky O’Shea) is ecstatic to be making her North Coast Rep debut! Some favorite credits include: Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes (MiraCosta Theater), Natalie/Ed in All Shook Up, Ellie Blake in Freaky Friday (Ritz Theater Company), Ms. Lark/Winifred Banks u/s in Mary Poppins, Featured Dancer/Glinda u/s in The Wizard Of Oz (Moonlight Amphitheater), Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls, Ariel in The Little Mermaid, Finch/Katherine Plumber u/s in Newsies, Pugsley in The Addams Family (Classical Academy), California Center of the Arts Escondido Rising Stars, 2023 Broadway San Diego Awards top three women’s finalist. Many thanks to her wonderful family and friends for their love and support.
TOM DUGAN* (Mike O’Shea/Father Lovett/Betty Heckenbach) Lauded as a “National Treasure” by critics, Tom Dugan is a celebrated Los Angeles-based playwright and actor with a host of awards and nominations, including from the New York Drama Desk and Los Angeles Ovation. His meticulously researched historical one-person plays have received acclaim worldwide, from the U.S. and Canada to Australia, Israel, and London. Dugan’s notable work Wiesenthal (“Heartbreaking and beautiful” - New York Times) was produced Off-Broadway and featured on PBS. His other acclaimed plays include Tell Him It’s Jackie (“Masterful” - Curtain Up), Tevye in New York! (“Delightful” - Broadway World), The Ghosts Of Mary Lincoln (“Spellbinding” - LA Times), and Robert E. Lee – Shades Of Gray (“Brilliant” - Stage Happenings). His recent project, The New Jersey Trilogy, includes Cemetery Pub (“Terrifically entertaining” - Theatre Notes), Irish Goodbye (“Hilarious” - Stage Raw), and Hank & Otto, set for production in 2025. Contact Tom at tom.dugan@outlook.com.
CHRISTOPHER M. WILLIAMS* (Stage Manager/Props Design) During his 30 years in the industry, Christopher has made his theatrical career as a director, union actor and stage manager, as well as, fight choreographer, designer, and instructor. His directing credits include: Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Visiting Mr. Green, and the West Coast Premieres of Gabriel and Desperate Measures (North Coast Rep); Romeo and Juliet (Southwest Shakespeare); Beau Jest and Leading Ladies (Moonlight Stages); Halpern and Johnson (AZ Jewish Theatre); I Hate Hamlet (Intrepid Theatre); Julius Caesar (New Village Arts); The Outsider and Chapatti (Scripps Ranch Theatre). He served six years as Associate Artistic Director and Casting Director for North Coast Rep following his duties as founding Artistic Director of Oceanside Theatre Company. Christopher has also worked in the film industry where he was producer, casting associate, and on-set acting coach for the WWII feature “Walking with the Enemy,” starring Sir Ben Kingsley and Jonas Armstrong.