Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present A.R. Gurney’s “Love Letters” live on stage at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre on Feb. 8, 14 and 15 — the perfect theatrical treat for Valentine’s Day!
“Love Letters” — a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama — stars Leslie Brott and Chris Mixon and is directed by Richie Call. This production of “Love Letters” is a program of the film festival’s new Sedona Professional Theatre Company.
“Love Letters” centers on two characters, Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepeace Ladd III. They read notes, cards and love letters – in which over nearly 50 years, they discussed their feelings and ambitions, dreams and disappointments, victories and defeats that have passed between them throughout their separated lives.
Both born to wealth and position, Melissa and Andrew are childhood friends whose lifelong correspondence begins with birthday party thank-you notes and summer camp postcards. Romantically attached, they continue to exchange letters through the boarding school and college years. While Andy is off at war Melissa marries, but her attachment to Andy remains strong and she continues to keep in touch as he marries, becomes a successful attorney, gets involved in politics and, eventually, is elected to the U.S. Senate.
Through these 50 years of love letters and correspondence, it is eloquently clear how much they really meant, and gave to, each other over the years — physically apart, perhaps, but spiritually as close as only true lovers can be.
LESLIE BROTT
Leslie Brott (Melissa Gardner) is an Associate Dean for the Caine College of the Arts, and Professor and Head of Actor Training for the BFA-Acting program at Utah State University. Her credits include 17 seasons with the Utah Shakespeare Festival; the Great River, Idaho, and Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festivals; Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, PCPA Theaterfest, GeVa Theatre, Dallas Theater Center, Sacramento Theatre Company, Salt Lake Acting Company, Madison Repertory Theatre, and the Southwest Shakespeare Company. She is a member of Actors Equity Association and is from Northern California.
CHRIS MIXON
Chris Mixon (Andrew Makepeace Ladd III) Chris’s theatre credits include the Utah Shakespeare Festival (11 seasons) and many shows with Salt Lake’s Pioneer Theatre Company, Milwaukee Rep., Cincinnati Playhouse, Philadelphia Theatre Co., George Street Theatre, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, GeVa Theatre Center, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival (11 seasons), the Great River Shakespeare Festival (9 seasons), and many shows with the Orlando, Hudson Valley and Nebraska Shakespeare Festivals. Chris was a resident company member with The Pearl Theatre Company in NYC for 7 years, and he spent a year touring with Broadway’s How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying starring Ralph Macchio and Roger Bart. Film & TV credits: Law & Order, One Life to Live, All My Children and The Rosa Parks Story starring Angela Bassett.
RICHIE CALL
Richie Call (Director) is the head of the Department of Theatre Arts at Utah State University in Logan, Utah where he also serves as the Artistic Director of the Lyric Repertory Company – a company founded by his grandfather, W. Vosco Call, in 1967. Richie has spent 23 seasons working with the Lyric Rep. Other professional credits include work for Utah Shakespeare Festival, Pioneer Theatre Company, Salt Lake Acting Company, Mile Square Theatre, American Globe Theatre, and Gorilla Rep. He has an MFA in Acting from Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts and a BFA in Performance from Utah State University.
“Love Letters” is generously sponsored by Sandi Schenholm. Season sponsors are Renee and Doug Leuthold and Chuck Marr.
“Love Letters” will take the stage at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 4:00 p.m. (Preview Show); Friday, Feb. 14 at 7:00 p.m.; and Saturday, Feb. 15 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door.
For tickets and more information, please call 928-282-1177. Both the theatre and film festival office are located at 2030 W. Hwy. 89A, in West Sedona. For more information, visit: www.SedonaFilmFestival.org.