Gold Coast Plays comes out of a three-year hiatus to become the Resident Theatre Company of the newly renovated Theater On High Street in Moorpark, California. The Theater celebrates its formal opening on February 21 & 22, 2003 with a film, a concert and the one-act comedy THE ACTOR'S NIGHTMARE by CHRISTOPHER DURANG. The production boasts a stellar cast, starring DENISE ALEXANDER, LESLIE CHARLESON and PETER RENADAY, all from the ABC Daytime Series, GENERAL HOSPITAL. Gold Coast Plays' Artistic Director, STEPHANIE ANGELINI, will direct the play.

DENISE ALEXANDER (Sarah Siddons) is best known for her Emmy-nominated role of Lesley Webber on GENERAL HOSPITAL; however, she has performed on stage from regional theatre to Broadway. Denise won key awards and critical raves for her theatre performances in THE CHILDREN'S HOUR both on Broadway and in Los Angeles, Anouilh's ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE, and Los Angeles' long running smash hit UNDER THE YUM-YUM TREE.

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While the Soap Opera Encyclopedia may call her "the most consistently popular romantic heroine in soap opera history," her career also boasts an impressive list of more than 3000 television performances and 1000 radio broadcasts. Denise produced the critically acclaimed film, HIDDEN IN SILENCE for Lifetime Television, and is an ambassador for Animal Rights and Child Welfare.

LESLIE CHARLESON (Dame Ellen Terry) joined the GENERAL HOSPITAL cast in 1977 in her role of Dr. Monica Quartermaine. A four-time Emmy-nominated actress, television audiences first knew Leslie for her now famous Pearl Drops commercial. She began her stage career in summer stock in New York, and her later theatre credits include the DAVID MERRICK play ONE NIGHT STAND with TONY CURTIS. Leslie has guest starred in over twenty TV series, most recently on CBS' DIAGNOSIS MURDER and ABC's DHARMA AND GREG. She starred in the MIKE NICHOL'S film DAY OF THE DOLPHIN with GEORGE C. SCOTT. Leslie is an active celebrity spokesperson for breast cancer, cystic fibrosis and AIDS-related charities. She also proudly owns an Andalusian horse named Andarra that she rides and exhibits.

THE ACTOR'S NIGHTMARE at Gold Coast Plays Actor PETER RENADAY (Henry Irving) has played leading roles in theatres all over the Los Angeles area, including the award-winning roles of Abraham Lincoln in THE RIVALRY and Michael in I DO, I DO! Currently, Peter can be seen in the recurring role of John Jacks (father of Jax) on GENERAL HOSPITAL.

His numerous appearances in motion pictures and television include THE ODD COUPLE, DALLAS and NIGHT COURT. Very active in the voice-over field, Peter has been a regular on many animated cartoon series and can be heard at the Disney Theme parks as Henry in "The Country Bears," and Abraham Lincoln in "The Hall of Presidents."

Director STEPHANIE ANGELINI is a founder of Gold Coast Plays and its Conservatory for Young People. She began studying acting at the age of fifteen with the head of UCLA's Theatre Department and moved into directing and producing, becoming one of ten local producers for the Olympic Arts Festival in 1984. Stephanie founded three theatre companies, directing and producing dozens of L.A. productions, and won awards for directing a comedy improvisation group and WILLIAM SAROYAN'S One-Act Play HELLO OUT THERE. Stephanie is dedicated to developing new plays, and most recently directed the Commedia dell 'Arte musical ISABELLA AND FRANCESCO. Stephanie serves on arts boards for the City, County and State.

THE ACTOR'S NIGHTMARE finds accountant George Spelvin has casually wandered on stage where he is informed that one of the actors, Eddie (Edwin Booth), has been in a car accident and George will have to go on for him. The other actors, luminaries such as Sarah Siddons, Dame Ellen Terry and Henry Irving, do their best to help George through plays that might be PRIVATE LIVES, HAMLET or Samuel Beckett's CHECKMATE. After fumbling through missed cues and disconcerting play shifts, George rises to the occasion in the climactic scene from A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS, finally giving the right line. But dream suddenly gives way to reality as the executioner's axe (meant for Sir Thomas Moore) instead sends poor George to oblivion. THE ACTOR'S NIGHTMARE will be presented at the Grand Opening of the Theater On High Street, Ventura County's newest (and oldest) stage. Also on the program is the 30-minute short movie "Theater On High Street - A Documentary Film," telling the lush history of the theater from its early beginnings in 1927 through its recent renovation. The program concludes with a musical concert starring AMANDA McBROOM (songwriter "The Rose"), DALE KRISTIEN (Broadway's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA) and GEORGE BALL (Nationally-acclaimed Baritone). The Grand Opening is February 21 & 22, 2003 beginning at 8:00 P.M. Ticket prices are $65 (including wines, hors d'oeuvres and desserts), and are available at the Box Office by calling 805.529.8700. The Theater On High Street is located at 45 High Street in Moorpark, California. Gold Coast Plays is a California Public Benefit corporation.

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