Tuesday, February 03, 2009

In cooperation with the Department of Film Studies at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Guerilla Theatre presents the world premiere of Gepetto's House. Written by UNCW Film Studies chair Lou Buttino and directed by Brown Coat Pub and Theatre Company owner, Richard Davis, Gepetto's House opens Thursday, Feb. 12 and runs Thursday-Sunday the rest of the month.

Buttino and Davis have teamed up to showcase Wilmington's vibrant and talented acting and film communities. The play is dedicated to the late actor Pat Hingle, who made his home in Wilmington and contributed his time and talent to the local acting and film culture.

"Wilmington has both a thriving film community and a thriving acting community, but they don't always get together," said Davis. "We're excited to bring them together on this project because they need to work together to have something to build on for the future."

Buttino plans to shoot the film version of Gepetto's House during the summer in and around Wilmington using local actors and a local film crew. He said this project provides an opportunity to showcase the resources Wilmington has to offer to make home-grown feature films.

The setting of Gepetto's House is a costume party on a college campus in 1969, when America is coming apart at the seams. The characters must stay in costume and in character until midnight. What happens that night will change their world and the world around them.

Buttino puts his extensive film and theatrical background to work with some of Wilmington's finest young actors. Gepetto's House challenges the cast and the audience to re-interpret childhood fairy tales and archetypes in a world gone mad.

"The choices these characters make in 1969 will give the Wilmington audience an opportunity to see anew today's challenges, and the part we play in the world around us," said Buttino.

Show times for Gepetto's House are 8 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays with an additional 3 p.m. Sunday matinee. Tickets are available at www.guerillatheatre.com or at the door at the Brown Coat Pub and Theatre, 111 Grace Street. The show runs Thursday through Sunday Feb. 12-15, 19-22 and 26-28. General admission tickets are $10. Sunday is student night; student tickets are $5 with valid ID.

Media contact:

Dana Fischetti, media relations manager, UNCW, 910.962.7259 or fischettid@uncw.edu