New Village Arts to premiere new comedy The Roommate
By SDCN Editor
Carlsbad, CA–New Village Arts in Carlsbad kicks off its 21st season with the San Diego premiere of the new dark comedy, “The Roommate” by Jen Silverman.
The new dark comedy about self-discovery and new beginnings will be directed by longtime New Village Arts collaborator Samantha Ginn, and will star Milena Sellers Phillips and Kim Strassburger.
“The premiere of this show was originally scheduled for spring of 2020, but because of COVID, everything was shut down a few days before we were supposed to open,” said director Samantha Ginn. “So I’m thrilled that we’re now getting the chance to do this amazing play. The playwright, Jen Silverman, gave these actors so many comedic moments to work with. The comedy is grounded in complete truth as well.
Described as “The Odd Couple” meets “Breaking Bad,” the play is a dark comedy about two women who forge an unlikely bond despite their many differences. Sharon (Phillips), in her mid-fifties, is recently divorced and needs a roommate to share her Iowa home. Robyn (Strassburger), also in her mid-fifties, needs a place to hide and a chance to start over. But as Sharon begins to uncover Robyn’s secrets, they encourage her own deep-seated desire to transform her life completely.
Ginn will make her mainstage directorial debut at New Village Arts with “The Roommate.” She also serves as the director of education for the theater and oversees all of its education programs, including nationally recognized neurodiverse education programs. These programs give teenagers and young adults neurodiversity professional training in theater. Ginn is also a regular performer at the theater. Some of her favorites include “Sylvia,” “The Miss Firecracker Contest,” and “The Weir,” She appeared most recently in the critically-acclaimed premiere adaptation of “The Servant of Two Masters” which she also co-adapted). Milena (Sellers) Phillips returns to the NVA stage after acclaimed turns in “1222 Oceanfront: A Black Family Christmas, “Intimate Apparel,” “Men On Boats,” and “Having Our Say.” She is joined by Kim Strassburger, making her return to the stage after several years away (credits include “Seascape” and “Simpatico”).
The design team includes critically-acclaimed New Village Arts collaborators Christopher Scott Murillo (Scenic Designer), Annelise Salazar (Lighting Designer), Katrina DeRoche (Costume Designer), Samantha Ginn and Marcus Rico (Sound Designers), and Andrea Moriarty (Properties Designer).
New Village Arts’ 21st season is sponsored by The Conrad Prebys Foundation and Jazzercise. “The Roommate” will run from April 1 to April 22.
