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Saturday, April 12, 13, and 14, at 8:00 P.M.
“The Back Home Set”
A West Coast Premiere
Written by Sam Riley
Directed by Martin Papazian
Performances on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, April 12, 13, and 14, at 8:00 P.M. Admission is $5; RSVP 310.264.4678 as seating is limited.
In conjunction with the exhibition, “Michelle Rogers: Troubles at Home,” paintings relating to U.S. post-September 11 and the loss of patriotism, Track 16 Gallery presents the west coast premiere of “The Back Home Set,” an original play written by Sam Riley, directed by Martin Papazian.
The The Back Home Set first premiered at The Stella Adler Studio in New York and is composed of three short plays, consisting of “One Night Savior,” “The Recruit,” and “In the Wind.” The vignettes are about U.S. soldiers coming home from combat abroad to experience their lives with new perceptions: a soldier returns to Pennsylvania where she hunkers down in a motel room, seeking a stranger’s company before she steps back into the world she left; a soldier from Ohio returns to seek a new direction in his life at the hands of a political campaign; and a soldier returns to Katrina-ravaged New Orleans only to discover that the place where he grew up has collapsed in his absence. The “Back Home Set” actors include Willow Atkinson, Samantha Sloyan, Kalimba Bennett, Jeff Patterson, Jamil Smith, and Keith Downing.
Martin Papazian has directed several productions in conjunction with Track 16 exhibitions, notably, “The Exonerated” during Malaquias Montoya’s “PreMeditated: Meditations on Capital Punishment,” and “The Kentucky Cycle” during Ken Light’s “Coal Hollow.” As an actor, Martin made his theatrical debut last year in Universal’s “Jarhead” directed by Sam Mendes. He is currently recurring in Fox’s “24” for his second season. He has guest-starred in “The Unit” (episode directed by David Mamet); “Without A Trace,” “NCIS,” “Less Than Perfect,” “Monk,” “JAG,” “Charmed,” and a half-dozen movies for television. Los Angeles Theater credits include lead roles in “Autobahn” by Neil Labute (West Coast Premiere); “Suburbia;” “Waiting For Lefty;” and “The Equation” (World Premiere). He trained with the Arizona Repertory Theater Company and the British Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Sam Riley was born and raised in New York City. His most recent play, Promised Land, premiered in 2006 at The Stella Adler Studio in New York City. His first play, Dive, premiered in 2000 at Stonesteet Studios in NYC. He wrote and co-starred in the forthcoming short film, The Ballad of Rosie Graves. As an actor, Sam won the 2002 Off-Off Broadway Review award for his portrayal of Hamlet at Theater 22. Film/TV: “Virgin” (2004 Independent Spirit Award nominee), “If I Didn’t Care, Law & Order SVU,” and “Law & Order: Criminal Intent.” NYC Theatre: “Beggars In The House Of Plenty,” “MacBeth,” “Simpatico,” “Cowboy Mouth,” “Short Eyes,” and many more. Sam also maintains a short fiction blog, Tin & Spit (www.tinandspit.blogspot.com).