Theater News

Shotgun Players' West Coast Premiere of Kiss Begins Performances

Guillermo Calderón’s play runs through September 23 at Ashby Stage.

Phil Wong and Roneet Aliza Rahamim star in Kiss, directed by Evren Odcikin, for Shotgun Players.
Phil Wong and Roneet Aliza Rahamim star in Kiss, directed by Evren Odcikin, for Shotgun Players.
(© Cheshire Isaacs)

The Shotgun Players' West Coast premiere of Kiss begins performances tonight at Ashby Stage.

Evren Odcikin directs Guillermo Calderón's play, described as follows: "A group of actors discover a script set in Damascus. They eagerly begin performing what appears to be a romantic melodrama, believing they will learn something about what it's like to live in Syria. Then everything explodes. With subtly shifting perspectives, Kiss compels us to continually question our grip on reality. It's a mystery and political thriller dressed up as a love story."

Kiss stars Rasha Mohamed as Woman, Roneet Aliza Rahamim as Hadeel and Andrea, Jessica Lea Risco as Interpreter, Elissa Beth Stebbins as Laura and Bana, Wiley Naman Strasser as Ahmed and Martin, and Phil Wong as Youssif and Daniel.

The creative team includes set designer Mikiko Uesugi, lighting designer Cassie Barnes, costume designer Miyuki Bierlein, sound designer Sara Huddleston, properties designer by Devon LaBelle, video designer Kevin Landesman, fight and stunt director Dave Maier, and dialect coach Nathalie Khankan. Heather Kelly-Laws is the stage manager, and Quinci Waller is the assistant director.

Performances continue through September 23.