LAFPI

The Echo Theater Company’s world premiere production of Poor Clare will open in October, 19 months after the originally scheduled March, 2020 opening that was shuttered by the pandemic. Echo associate artistic director Alana Dietze (Dry Land, The Wolves) is back at the helm as director. Poor Clare will open the Echo’s 25th anniversary season .

Extended through Dec. 13
Remaining performances:
• Wednesday at 8 p.m.: Dec. 8 (dark Dec. 1)
• Thursday at 8 p.m.: Dec. 9 (dark Dec. 2)
• Fridays at 8 p.m.: Dec. 10 (dark Dec. 3)
• Saturdays at 8 p.m.: Dec. 11 (dark Dec. 4)
• Sundays at 4 p.m.: Dec. 12 (dark Dec. 5)
• Mondays at 8 p.m.: Dec. 13 (dark Dec. 6)

Set in 13th Century Italy and based on the real story of St. Clare of Assisi, Atik’s powerful and very funny modern spin on the Middle Ages couldn’t feel more timely. Clare (Jordan Hull) is just a regular teenager living in 13th century Italy, trying out hairstyles and waiting to get married… until a man named Francis (Michael Sturgis, seen at the Echo in Gloria) starts ranting in the courtyard. Clare and her sister Beatrice (Donna Zadeh, The Wolves) might just as well be living in 21st Century Calabasas or Beverly Hills. They worry about the latest styles, and gossip about boys with their live-in help (Kari Lee Cartwright and Martica De Cardenas). Together with their mother, Ortolana (Ann Noble), they do their best to be socially conscious and “give back,” donating leftover food to the poor (Tony DeCarlo) and organizing clothing drives. But what happens when your eyes are opened to the injustice of the world around you — and you can’t look away?

Chiara Atik’s other plays include Five Times in One Night, Bump and Women, a mashup of Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women” and HBO’s Girls. Her work has been developed at New York Theater Workshop, Clubbed Thumb/Playwrights Horizons Superlab, Williamstown, Northern Stage and Colt Coeur. Chiara’s writing has been featured in The Atlantic, Glamour magazine, Cosmopolitan magazine and at NYMag.com. Other writing credits include “Paris is Lovely/Lonely When You’re Alone” (Amazon Kindle) and “Modern Dating: A Field Guide,” (Harlequin, 2013). Her feature film script, Fairy Godmother, was on the 2016 Black List. Chiara is a member of the Ensemble Studio Theater and an alum of EST’s Youngblood.

Poor Clare opens on Saturday, Oct. 23, with performances continuing on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 4 p.m.; and Mondays at 8 p.m. Three preview performances are set for Wednesday, Oct. 20; Thursday, Oct. 21; and Friday, Oct. 22, each at 8 p.m. Tickets are $34 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; Monday night performances are $20 in advance, and Pay-What-You-Want at the door (subject to availability).

For reservations and information, call (310) 307-3753 or go to www.EchoTheaterCompany.com.

Proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours will be required of all patrons, and admittance is limited to ages 12+. All current CDC and local guidelines regarding seating and masks will be followed at each performance.

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