Delaware's REP Presents MINOR FANTASTICAL KINGDOMS

Delaware's Resident Ensemble Players (REP) presents the world-premiere comedy Minor Fantastical Kingdoms by Michael Gotch, Jan. 24 through Feb. 10. Mark Lamos directs the production, returning to the REP after staging the company's sold-out run of A Flea in Her Ear last season. Tickets can be purchased online at www.rep.udel.edu or by contacting the REP box office at (302) 831-2204.

Set in an off-the-grid tiny house in a forest of giant sequoias, Nick and his wife Sam have escaped the political, economic and personal chaos of the world. Or so they think. The couple finds their peace shattered when they're joined for a Fourth of July housewarming by the mountain's resident survivalist, two quirky Renaissance Faire devotees, an exuberant biology teacher and Sam's straight-talking mother. Figurative and literal fireworks fly when the real world collides with their tiny woodland kingdom in this funny and thought-provoking look at the 21st century challenges of being human.

"I needed a distraction from the news during the looming election of 2016," says playwright Michael Gotch, "and found myself drawn to the HGTV channel to watch benign home renovations. I became fascinated by the programs about the "tiny house" movement and the people who wanted to simplify their lives and go back to nature.

"I began to wonder what really happens once they actually try to make a life in their tiny home. It sounded like a fascinating setting for a story about a group of people creating their own little kingdoms in the wilderness. I then realized that many of us create our own tiny kingdoms: digitally on social media or politically with our unwavering for-or-against opinions - leading to a very myopic view of the world.

"I thought this is a great way to tell a story that's a larger metaphor about where the world is socially, economically, and politically and place it in a situational comedy about people trying hard to order the world around them in a universe that defies organization."

The cast includes REP company members Hassan El-Amin as Bernard, Elizabeth Heflin as Billie, Lee E. Ernst as Larry, Stephen Pelinski as Win and Kathleen Pirkl Tague as Carol and guest actors Sara Bues as Sam and Denver Milord as Nick.

The creative team includes Hugh Landwehr, scenic design; Tricia Barsamian, costume design; Pat Collins, lighting design; and Michael Bodeen and Rob Milburn, sound design.

Performances begin Thursday, Jan. 24 and run through Sunday, Feb. 10, in the Thompson Theatre at the Roselle Center for the Arts on the University of Delaware's Newark campus. Opening night is Saturday, Jan. 26. Playwright Michael Gotch will discuss the production during free pre-show presentations on Saturday, Feb. 2 and Sunday, Feb. 10. Informal talkbacks with the cast take place follow the evening performances on Thursday, Jan. 31 and Friday, Feb. 8.

Tickets range from $27 to $32; discounts are available for students, seniors and University of Delaware faculty and staff and can be purchased online at www.rep.udel.edu or by contacting the REP box office at 302-831-2204 or visiting in person at 110 Orchard Rd. Newark, Del., Monday - Friday, noon to 5:00 p.m.

REP productions are supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.com.