"It's a strange,dark, passionately drawn story and my staff and I found it morbidly fascinating. I particularly admire your ability to draw us into Jeremy's and Austin's strange attraction, despite the obvious ickiness of their meet-cute and the darkness that surrounds the relationship. The characters feel decidedly real."- Adam Greenfield of Playwright's Horizons

"Moving beyond the comfort zone and honestly exploring darker elements of humanity, Waking Up is a testament to believing in the possibility of hope even in the face of desperation. Undoubtedly this play will speak on an intimate level to scores of people and it would be no surprise to me to hear people talk of how the show actually saved them from themselves. The staged readings alone have stirred discussion, arguments, introspection and ultimately great praise, it will be thrilling to see what happens when this insightful piece is brought to the full production it more than deserves." - Nic Arnzen (Director Corpus Christi, I Am Love, Some Men)

ABOUT THE SHOW

Jeremy (Jason Heymann) is having a mid-life crisis.  Hes 27.   While attending his Uncles wake, he  meets Austin (Brionne Davis),  a fellow mourner.  Jeremy is instantly drawn in by this handsome stranger's mysterious charm. They connect immediately, and as their conversation progresses, Jeremy discovers an uncomfortable truth:  Austin is a wake-hopper. 

Lukas, Jeremys roommate, has a wonderful and loving relationship with his partner, Frankie.  Unfortunately,  Frankie has been in a permanent vegetative state for the last two years.

Kathy, Frankies sister, is living the American dream:  She has a "great" career, a big house in the suburbs with a nice lawn and a white picket fence, two beautiful children and a husbandwith whom she doesn't have sex with.  Like her brother, Kathy is realizing that her marriage is in a permanent vegetative state.

WAKING UP is a commentary on the similarities between grief and love and the consequences of what happens when those lines are blurred.

Click the red for: An Interview with playwright Augusto Federico Amador

Original soundtrack by Michelle Amador and Dan Holguin

Your donation is tax deductible, yes... tax deductible! You're contribution will be toward the lauded Celebration Theatre in Los Angeles, a 501c3 organization. The Celebration Theatre is happy to be the fiscal sponsor of Waking Up Productions  and supports the full production of the new staged play, WAKING UP, by Augusto Federico Amador. 

The play has gone through considerable rewrites and a journey across the country to find itself a home with THE IMAGINED LIFE THEATRE which has been generously donated for a six week run by esteemed acting teachers Diana Castle and Steve Tiesort.  WAKING UP showcases our basic human need to love, and validates a world in which we are all connected. The production team and cast believe that this is the appropriate time for such a story.

So whether you are an arts patron or are simply looking for a tax write-off or hopefully both!  Rest assured that your generous donation is tax deductible! And will be supporting a fresh and universal story that can, through your support and donation, be experienced by large theater going audiences. Your contribution will go towards costs such as the set design, lighting design, publicity and all other necessities that will make this production unforgettable and inspired!

 WHERE: The Imagined Life Theatre:

5615 San Vicente Blvd. (at Hauser)

Los Angeles, CA 90019

Staged Reading: November 5th 2011

Full Show Production:  January 2012

Dates for receptions and parties will be confirmed soon

                                     Brionne Davis as Austin         Jason Heymann as Jeremy