Lifeline

Extended! Must close March 21st
Written By Robert Axelrod
Directed By Ken Sawyer
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WORLD PREMIERE

Extended! Must close March 21st

Fridays & Saturdays 8pm
Sundays 2pm

THURSDAYS!
March 5th
March 12th
Code “30Thursdays” fro $30 tickets

 

In the aftermath of an unforeseen life-changing event, Patti, a well-meaning mother, decides to become a volunteer for a suicide hotline, where laughter, tears, and a new understanding bridge the divide between people from very different walks of life. 

Lifeline participated in The Road’s 15th Annual Summer Playwrights Festival and has been selected for a fully produced production this season!

RECOMMENDED!  “Axelrod’s writing packs a punch…Lifeline is not just smart in its ability to cover sensitive topics with humor — it also allows the characters to breathe between the tension and show their humanity.  Axelrod’s writing and Sawyer’s direction expose a strong heartbeat within the play!” – Steven Vargas, STAGE RAW
“INTENSELY MOVING! (A) KNOCKOUT ENSEMBLE OF INCREDIBLY GIFTED ACTORS! The cast is uniformly excellent and the camaraderie between this intrepid band of players is something quite palpable—again, I suspect, thanks to the patient and beneficent leadership of director Ken Sawyer.  A timely, urgently important work, a breath of compassionate fresh air!” – Travis Holder, Ticket Holders LA
“The ensemble is sterling…Robert Axelrod infuses enough humor into the characters that this dramedy, even when it’s emotional, pulls back before falling into despair, weaving dark and light so effortlessly, the tapestry he creates is engrossing. His writing is sharp and smart and in the end he gives us, if not hope, a sense that, for as bad as things can get, we can power through.  We might find a lot to identify with in LIFELINE, which is another feather in the Road Theatre’s cap. The Road never shies away from pushing the envelope and this show is no exception to that!” – Harker Jones , Broadway World
ENTERTAINING, WELL-ACTED AND FREQUENTLY MOVING!  Ken Sawyer’s direction is fluid and creative, and he gets excellent work from his entire ensemble! Axelrod’s writing is smart, working equally well in dramatic or comedic moments. Tommy Dickie does terrific work…Clifton J. Adams is charismatic and funny…Naomi Rubin is superb…Sazzle’s performance impresses…Finally, Visser and Tolsky are both amazing, especially in one of the most powerful scenes in the play.” – Terry Morgan, Arts Beat LA
WOW!  “As compelling as it is funny as it is ultimately quite moving thanks to a terrific script, a fabulous cast, a sensational production design, and Ken Sawyer in the director’s chair.  A powerful piece of writing enriched by six superb performances under Sawyer’s astute direction.  Robert Axelrod’s Lifeline’s had me from its characters’ initial meet-and-greet to its life-affirming finale.  Don’t be surprised if you too find yourself heading home from the theater entertained, enlightened, and enriched.” 

“PROFOUND AND MOVING! INTIMATE AND ABSORBING” – Joe Mousceda, Glamgical

“…the play, by Robert Axelrod, builds immersive authenticity through a range of beautiful and complicated characters, brought to life by a talented cast, and immersive direction by Ken Sawyer.” -Larchmont Buzz

Cast:
Jen: Brittany Visser
Drew: Tommy Dickie
Patti: Amy Tolsky
Kai: Clifton J. Adams
Sarah Beth: Naomi Rubin
Maya: Xoe Sazzle

Lou Roy
Joh Chase

Alternate Cast Performances
February 10th, February 11th & February 12th

Jen: Destinee Stewart
Drew: Juan Pope
Patti: Ivy Khan
Kai: Casey Daley
Sarah Beth: Gloria Ines
Maya: Rafi Perez

ROBERT AXELROD is a writer based in Los Angeles, originally hailing from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Robert is a current member of the Road Theatre Company’s Under Construction Playwriting Group, as well as the Warner Bros. Discovery Access Writers Program. He is a past recipient of the Humanitas New Voices fellowship, CineStory TV fellowship, and was part of the inaugural class of the Jewish Writer Initiative’s Digital Storyteller Lab. Robert was named one of the winners of the Echo Theater Company’s inaugural playwriting competition and previously won the ScreenCraft Stage Play Competition, which led to his award-winning play receiving a staged reading with the IAMA Theatre Company, as part of their New Works Festival. Most recently, Robert was a finalist for the 2024 Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference. Robert is a proud Summa Cum Laude graduate of Syracuse University where he holds a BFA in Drama.

Ken Sawyer is an award-winning director based in Los Angeles, California. His work has spanned a wide range of venues with projects that include musicals, plays, experimental theatre, concerts and special events.

Ken is honored to return to The Road Theatre Company where he was a founding member and former artistic board member. Directing projects at The Road include the award winning The WOMAN IN BLACK which had a sold out 3 month run in North Hollywood before moving to the Coronet Theatre in WeHo.

His collaboration with Jon Imparato and the Los Angeles LGBT Center further built his reputation as a lover of theater that not only entertains and thrills the senses, but also tackles challenging and thought provoking issues. Highlights include THE GOAT OR WHO IS SYLVIA, a collaboration with Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner to produce a full cast version of THE SEARCH FOR SIGNS OF INTELLIGENT LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE, and the immersive HIT THE WALL.

Other career hightlighs include collaborating with Emmy Award winner Paris Barclay on the Vietnam era musical ONE RED FLOWER,…with rock icons Charlotte Caffey (the GoGos) and Anna Waronker (That Dog) on LOVELACE: THE ROCK OPERA starring Katrina Lenk…with Stephen Schwartz and David Stern on the development of SNAPSHOTS… and with Colin Escott on development of the Broadway hit MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET.

Ken has guest directed at Carnegie Mellon University, USC, and California State University, Northridge and is an adjunct professor at USC. Ken is a graduate of The Juilliard School.

Director………………….…………………………………………………Ken Sawyer
Playwright………………..…………………………………………………Robert Axelrod
Assistant Director………………….………………………..Elizabeth Herron
Producers…………………………………………..Danna Hyams & Taylor Gilbert
Production Stage Manager…………………..………………….Maurie Gonzalez
Production Coordinator……………….…………………………….Darryl Johnson
Set Design…………………………………………………………………….Desma Murphy
Lighting Design……………………………………………………..Matt Richter
Sound Design………………………………………………………..Ken Sawyer
Projection Design…………………………………………………………….Nick Santiago
Costume Design……………………………………………….Mary Jane Miller
Prop Design…………………………………………………………………Aaron Lyons
Artwork/Graphic Design……………………………………………..Cece Tsou
Publicist……………………………………………………..David Elzer/Demand PR
Production Photographer……………………………………………..Ken Sawyer
Program Design……………………………………….Danny Gomez-Blumenfeld
Technical Director………………….……………………………Brian Graves