Welcome to Clarkston, Washington, where Jake and Chris meet working the night shift at Costco. Jake, a middle-class, educated new hire who’s a distant relative of explorer William Clark, has fled his privileged life in Connecticut after being diagnosed with a serious illness. Chris, a would-be writer with a meth-addicted mom is stuck in what he fears is a dead-end life in a dead-end town. Soon, their tentative attraction develops into something much deeper and more complicated.
featuring
Tasha Ames
Sean Luc Rogers
Michael Sturgis
Written by Samuel D. Hunter
Directed by Chris Fields
Produced by Kelly Beech, Marie Bland, Chris Fields
Associate Producer Natalya Nielsen
Assistant Director Kendall McDermott
Set design Amanda Knehans
Lighting design Matthew Richter
Sound Design Alysha Bermudez
Costume Design Dianne K. Graebner
“The Echo’s production is one of those gifts of LA’s intimate theater: a chance to spend 80 minutes in a small theater with great actors, beautifully directed. It’s also what the Echo Theatre Company does best — tell moving stories from unlikely protagonists. Don’t miss this one.” -Anthony Brynes KCRW
“WOW!… No one writes with more insight, depth, and compassion about ordinary lives in the American Northwest than prolific Idaho playwright Samuel D. Hunter… a trio of electrifying star turns… impeccable direction… It’s hard to imagine a finer West Coast Premiere for the remarkable Clarkston than its Echo Theater Company debut.” — Steven Stanley, Stage Scene LA
“HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL… sweetly vulnerable and achingly poignant, creating an indelible portrait of two young people in need and the curative power of human bonding.” —Travis Holder, Ticket Holders LA
“ABSOLUTELY LOVELY… DEEPLY AFFECTING… real, raw, honest.” — Dick Price, Sharon Kyle and Linnea Friberg-Price, Hollywood Progressive
“BEAUTIFULLY ACTED… strong performances from a trio of superb actors.” — Terry Morgan, Arts Beat LA
“ABSORBING AND ULTIMATELY UPLIFTING… his principle … subject is … timeless-human relationships… [full of] … beautiful discoveries…— Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times
“DIVINELY ENJOYABLE… intriguing and fun… highly recommended!” —Amalisha Hueck, Discover Hollywood
“TOUCHING… humor and humanness… [a] tender, bittersweet story…. STAGE RAW TOP 10.” — Deborah Klugman, Stage Raw
“POWERFUL… hit[s] every rueful note of irony and regret with Chekhovian precision.” — Don Shirley, Angeles Stage