The Graves of San Andreas (2003)

Jeff McGrail and Ange Billman as 1930s Hollywood tragic movie stars Murray
and Sadie Maddox in The Graves of San Andreas.

This world premiere play appeared at the Century City Playhouse the fall after we finished shooting Missing Persons.  In some ways, it was not a true premiere, because the script had been originally written and mounted at Middlebury College in 2001.  When a Los Angeles production was proposed, a major rewrite took place before the process began.  The co-founders wore their usual numerous hats for this one:  Clark Freeman co-produced, co-set designed, and starred as Dale;  Andy Mitton was writer and director;  Mariah Sussman managed the PR and starred as Evie.  The rest of the cast included John Wildman, Ange Billman, Jeff McGrail, Crispin Freeman, Claire Coffee, and Sam Roberts, who had served as script supervisor on Missing Persons and would later become an official member of the SUS Team.   The production was well-received and helped to build our reputation as a group who was striving for something new.  It also established us as a group with a penchant for the gothic. 

The story tells of a downward spiraling party in a Hollywood penthouse that was once the setting of a grisly murder-suicide back in 1932.  The harrowing history of the apartment will materialize again as a twisted troupe of Hollywood hopefuls gather together for some drinking, dancing, and deal-making.  All at once a comedy, drama, and horror story, this unique roller coast ride peels back the face of Los Angeles for a fresh and frightening perspective on life as an actor.

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