NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Beth McClure, Director of Marketing and Communications January 29, 2015 [email protected], 314.561.4868

COCA Presents 2014-2015 Walking the Tightrope February 21-22, 2015

“Walking the Tightrope delivers the evocative, cathartic goods.” – Los Angeles Times, Critic’s Choice

(ST. LOUIS, MO) – COCA Presents Walking the Tightrope in the Founders’ Theatre February 21 and 22, 2015. Winner of three Drama Critics Circle Awards and honored with more than a dozen nominations for acting, music, video design and more, this production is an experience adults and children can enjoy together. Written by Mike Kenny, one of England’s leading writers for young audiences, and produced in Los Angeles by the critically acclaimed 24th Street Theatre, Walking the Tightrope is a creative and moving story of a grandfather and granddaughter who must redefine their relationship after Grandma leaves to "join the circus."

Featuring a cast of talented actors, a sophisticated set and original music, Walking the Tightrope will not be easily forgotten.

Walking the Tightrope gently and creatively addresses the theme of loss and is recommended for ages 7 and up.

WHAT: COCA Presents 2014-2015: Walking the Tightrope Featuring Shelly Kurtz, Micaela Martinez, Tony Duran and Michael Redfield

WHERE: Founders’ Theatre at COCA, 524 Trinity Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63130

WHEN: Saturday, February 21, 2015 at 2:00 & 5:00pm; Sunday, February 22, 2015 at 1:00 & 4:00pm

PRICES: $14-$18 at www.cocastl.org, by phone at 314.561.4877 or in person at COCA.

COMING UP: COCA Theatre Company’s The Little Prince (March 6-8 and March 13-14, 2015)

PHOTOS: High-resolution photos available at http://bit.ly/1wb7bSF

ABOUT COCA PRESENTS: COCA Presents is COCA’s performance series featuring the quality family theatre for which COCA has been known for more than 20 years. Comprised of shows created and produced by COCA, as well as the best touring productions from around the world, the COCA Presents performance series offers bold, cross-disciplinary performances. COCA Presents 2014-2015 is presented by Wells Fargo Advisors, with additional support provided by Mary Strauss, The Cheshire, St. Louis Public Radio, E. Reuben & Gladys Flora Grant Charitable Trust, The Mary Ranken Jordan and Ettie A. Jordan Charitable Foundation, Missouri Arts Council, Arts & Education Council and Regional Arts Commission.

ABOUT 24TH STREET THEATRE: 24th Street Theatre is a unique organization blending professional productions and world-class artists with quality arts education since 1997. It is one of the only professional Los Angeles theatres offering after school programming for elementary school children and one of the very few organizations approved by both the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Los Angeles County Arts Commission as an arts education provider.

COCA – Walking the Tightrope, Page 2 ABOUT THE PERFORMERS: Shelly Kurtz* (Grandad Stan) grew up in New Jersey, but spent most of his school life in New York City. After completing his post graduate studies in theatre at Syracuse University, Shelly went back to New York performing off and off-off Broadway, in commercials, and on the soap operas Days Of Our Lives and The Doctors. He moved to California to pursue television and film work. He became a familiar figure in the Los Angeles theatre scene, appearing over the years in various stage productions. Shelly also has appeared in such classic TV shows as Hill Street Blues, Hunter, Dallas, The New , Freddy’s Nightmares, Matlock, A Year In The Life, and a host of others including a recurring role on Knots Landing. His first memorable film role was in Batteries Not Included. He has since accumulated a long list of film credits including Children Of The Bride, Miriam, The Darkling, Jumping For Joy which won audience favorite in the Newport Beach Film Festival, The Last Day which won best short film in the Buffalo Film Festival and The Lepidoctor which won best film in the emerging artists category at the Cannes Film Festival. Shelly also writes (10 short plays, eight feature films, two sitcoms) and cares for a community of feral cats. His work and resume can be viewed at www.shellykurtz.com.

Micaela Martinez (Esme)* most recently toured the country with the 1st National Tour of Sister Act. Regional credits include: T-rex 1 in the West Coast premiere of Triassic Parq (The Chance Theatre), Wendla in Spring Awakening (La Mirada Theatre), Serena in Legally Blonde (3-D Theatricals), Emma in Funny Girly (3-D Theatricals), Lila in Parade (3-D Theatricals), Shelley in Hairspray (3-D Theatricals), and Velma in Chicago (Torrance Theatre Company). Micaela graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre. She would like to thank her amazing family and friends for their endless love and support.

Tony Duran (Clown) is a Mexican artist living in Los Angeles. He appeared in 24th STreet Theatre’s 11-month run of La Razon Blindada (2011 LA Weekly Production of the Year) as well as in the revival at the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura. He was recently seen in Tsunami and The Traveling Towers at Meet Me At Metro. Other theater credits include The Angels of McArthur Park and Guaría del Desamor, both directed by Jorge Folgueira. Tony performed and cocreated Olin and the solo work El hombre de las suelas de viento, which was presented at the 2005 FITLA International Latino Theatre Festival of Los Angeles, and in Fábula de un país de cera with Mexican theater troupe Mexicali a Secas at FITLA 2006. In 2007 he led an international workshop with actors and dancers from various Latin American countries through the project Teatro Amigo at the Los Angeles Theatre Center. He attended the XXXI workshop of the International School of Theatre of Latin America and the Caribbean (EITALC). Tony teaches courses on corporal expression, dance, theater and scenic movement.

Michael Redfield (Musician/Composer) is an actor, composer, and director living in Los Angeles. He performs with 24th Street Theatre in both their Enter Stage Right program and the LAb24 ensemble developing original works for young audiences. For Walking the Tightrope, he won the Ovation Award for Best Composition. Recently he starred in and scored the feature film Chasing Home, which premiered at festivals in Tucson and New York City. In 2011, he created the role of Packie in Small Engine Repair, which became the first production to sweep every major LA theatre award and went on to enjoy an off-Broadway run at MCC Theatre. Theatre credits include: The Browning Version, Small Tragedy, My Antonia (with music by Stephen Schwartz), When They Speak of Rita, Time of Your Life, and Of Mice and Men. TV/Film: Hanna Montana, Bewitched, Days of Our Lives, Chasing Home. His theatre scores include productions of Death of a Salesman, Fata Morgana, Time of Your Life, Walking the Tightrope; film scores include the award-winning short, Spirits, Captivated, Hero by Proxy (which he also directed), and Chasing Home. He is the proud father of three young children, the greatest joys and toughest critics he's ever known.

### About COCA

COCA-Center of Creative Arts is a non-profit community arts center with a mission to enrich lives and build community through the arts. COCA connects our community to the arts through programs that emphasize social and artistic diversity, economic and cultural accessibility, hands-on experience of the artistic process, and the highest quality in our faculty. Founded in 1986, COCA is a national leader in innovative community arts education. COCA annually serves more than 50,000 area residents of all ages through multidisciplinary, multi-cultural arts programs that include educational classes, camps and workshops, both on-site and in community venues; COCAbiz; COCAedu; COCA Presents; and exhibitions of contemporary art in the Millstone Gallery.