Photo Flash: Rubicon Theatre Presents American Premiere of eXtras

Following a critically hailed, highly successful extended run of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Rubicon Theatre Company continues the 2015-2016 Season with another American premiere -- eXtras by Sabina Berman. Loosely adapted from Marie Jones' Olivier Award-winning comedy Stones in His Pockets, eXtras is the hilarious story of what happens when a Hollywood film company descends upon a small California/Mexico border town to shoot a major motion picture, wreaking havoc on the fragile ecosystem of the community. eXtras will open on Saturday, April 16 at 7pm and run through Sunday, May 1 at the Rubicon Theatre, 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura. Check out photos below!

Two acclaimed and accomplished stars of stage, television and film - brothers Bruno and Odiseo Bichir -- make their U.S. stage debuts in the Rubicon production. The two play more than 15 characters: producer, starlet, director, crew, and locals, some of who are cast as 'extras' on the set, and all of whom have different dreams and desires. Bruno is an Ariel Award-winner (the Mexican Academy Award) and currently may be seen on "The Bridge" on FX and "Narcos" on Netflix. Odiseo has been honored with awards from the Association of Mexican Theatre Critics, Theatre Newspaper Group, the National Actors' Association, and the International Theatre Institute (ITI) UNESCO. He has appeared in more than 30 Telenovas and had recurring roles in three television series. Both Bruno and Odiseo have played leading roles in numerous films distributed in Mexico, the U.S., and throughout the world; and they are part of a legendary family of artists dedicated to the performing arts in Mexico. Father Alejandro Bichir is a distinguished theatre director, mother Maricruz Nájera is a beloved actress, and third brother Demián Bichir (Oscar nominee in 2011 for "A Better Life"/star of the FX series "The Bridge") is also an actor of great renown. Bruno Bichir, in his U.S. directing debut, helms the Rubicon production, taking inspiration from Berman's original staging.

Rubicon's production also features pre-show music created by 17-year-old composer/performer Maya Burns, a young rising star who has opened for Linda Ronstadt and recorded multiple CD's. Burns and her combo will perform original music in Ranchero, Corrido and Mexican Surfer Rock styles starting thirty minutes before curtain (the house will open forty minutes prior).

"This play has been on our wish list for several years and we are thrilled to finally get to share it with our audiences," says Rubicon Producing Artistic Director Karyl Lynn Burns. "It is incredibly entertaining and full of laughs; it is also sharp social satire, and poses important cultural and political questions which we hope will encourage discussion on the way home from the theatre."

The team for the American premiere of eXtras includes Choreographer Ruby Tagle, Set and Lighting Designer Thomas S. Giamario, Production Stage Manager Kathleen J. Parsons, Stage Manager Kimberly De Leon and Assistant Directors Hasiff Fadúl, Kimberly Legg and Armando Rey (the latter also serves as Understudy). Special thanks go to Stefanie Sherk.

The production is sponsored by a returning anonymous contributor, who has also contributed to Rubicon productions of Gem of the Ocean and Tea at Five, among others. Rubicon's 2015-2016 Season Sponsors are Diane and Peter Goldenring, Janet and Mark L. Goldenson, Sandra and Jordan Laby, Barbara Meister, and Anne and Michael Towbes.

Regular performances of eXtras are in English (with some Spanglish, the vernacular of the characters), Wednesdays at 2 and 7 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Spanish-language performances have been added Tuesday, April 19 and Sunday, May 1 at 7 p.m. Low-priced daytime student matinees for high school and college students are scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday April 15 and 22 in Spanish, and Friday, April 29 at 10 a.m. in English/Spanglish. For tickets, go to www.rubicontheatre.org or call the Rubicon Box Office at (805) 667-2900.

Photo Credit: Christopher Brown