“Runaways,” the groundbreaking musical by Elizabeth Swados that tells the stories of young teens living on the streets of New York City, opens Friday, Oct. 6, at Loyola Marymount University. Directed by Jane McEneaney, the show runs from Oct. 6-8 and Oct. 12-14 in the Strub Theatre. All performances start at 8 p.m.
“Runaways” is presented by the departments of Theatre Arts and Dance within LMU’s College of Communication and Fine Arts.
The documentary musical follows teen runaways, as young as 12 or 13, who choose to leave home for life on the streets, eschewing shelters and outreach facilities to be free of the constraints that led them to run in the first place. Some teens run out of isolation; some to pursue a dream; some to escape abuse. All of them have been let down by those charged with their care. Derived from interviews by Swados herself, “Runaways” provides an opportunity for these children to tell their stories and to show their strength and determination.
The ensemble cast of “Runaways” stars: Charlie Workmaster as Hubble; Brendan MacLaren as Lazar; Hayley Marian as Deirdre; Keiva Bradley as A.J.; Camryn Portagallo as Jackie; Juan Sebastian Bernal as Luis; Sabrina O’Reiley as Roby. Meighan LaRocca as Roxie; Amanda Nahin as Lidia; Ketino Christopher Dumbadse as Melinda; Charles Lawver as Jesse; Olivia Oreskovich as Nikki; Will Stuart as Manny; Susan Tilbury as Paula; Shannon Tormey as Edie; Mateo Rudich as Sundar; Brady Petrik as Eric; Kya Missick as Iggy; Niall Sulcer as EZ; Kianna Ismail as Kenya; and Antonella Doblanovic as Nina.
The production team includes: Megan Bosveld, stage manager; Danny Williams, musical director; Lennon Hobson, choreographer; Patricia McMahon, costume designer; Rob Hillig, lighting designer; Jason Sheppard, set designer and technical director; Marissa Whitmore, sound designer; and Johnny Burton, prop master.
The Strub Theatre is in the Foley Building at Loyola Marymount University, 1 LMU Drive, Los Angeles, 90045. Tickets cost $15 for general admission, and $10 for LMU faculty members, staff and students. More information can be found here, or by calling 310.338.7588.
Presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.
