Cottereau, Dayan, Molina, et al. Set for Rubicon International Theatre Festival Preview Season

Rubicon International Theatre Festival has announced its 2008 preview season which will be held throughout Ventura, July 12 -27. The festival is curated and helmed by Linda Purl, with M. Edgar Rosenblum as executive director.

The preview season will begin with the Teatro de las Americas production of Tu Ternura Molotov/Your Molotov Kisses written by Gustavo Ott and directed by Lourdes Solarzano at Bell Arts Factory, July 12-13. The season’s opening ceremony, hosted by Alfred Molina, will take place at the Majestic Ventura Theatre with a performance by Stephen Bishop, July 18.

Season productions will include the American premieres of Eye of the Cyclone, a new play from the Ivory Coast written by Luis Marques and directed by Vagba Obou de Sales at Rubicon Theatre Company, July 16-19; the American premiere of Conviction by Oren Neeman and translated by Mark Williams, starring American-Israeli artist Ami Dayan at the Ventura College Theatre, July 19-20, and the Calabasas Civic Center Amphitheatre, July 21; Samuel Beckett’s First Love starring Conor Lovett at Ventura College Studio Theatre, July 23-27; London cabaret artist Giselle Wolf at Elk’s Lodge, July 25; and Imagine-Toi, the Moliere Award-winning piece performed by Julien Cottereau at Ventura College Theatre, July 25-27.

Free outreach events will include a Kabuki demonstration lecture presented by Professor Lon Gordon at Elk’s Lodge, July 25; Rumi: Soaring to Ecstasy, a reading of Rumi’s poetry at The Ventura Book Fair at Crowne Plaza Hotel, July 26; and Apprentice Showcase: Evening of Scenes from Around the World by Rubicon’s annual apprentice program at Ventura College Theatre, July 27.

For more information, call 805-667-2900 or visit ritf.org.