BOB to Continue Aurora Theatre's 17th Season, 1/17-2/10

Aurora Theatre continues its 17th season with a new play that will have you laughing in the New Year. Bob, by American playwright Peter Sinn Nachtrieb, opens January 17 and continues through Feb 10, 2013.

This play tells the story of Bob, born on Valentine's Day in the bathroom of a White Castle in Kentucky and left to fend for himself by his birth mother Helen. Armed with nothing but an unfailing optimism, Bob is the epic, fast-paced comedy of one man's desire for greatness. Audiences are sure to love Bob, which is reminiscent of comic classics like The Jerk and Forest Gump. Bob is being co-produced with world renowned Geva Theatre Center in Rochester, New York as a part of their Fielding Nextstage Series in March 2013.

A special preview performance of Bob on January 15, 2013 welcomes anyone named Bob (Robert, Bobby, Bobbi, etc.) to attend FREE of charge. All other seats are just $10 with a current library card.

Bob was awarded the 2010 Barrie and Bernice Stavis Award from The National Theatre Conference, and received its World Premiere at the Humana Festival for New American Plays in March 2011, garnering critical acclaim. Both the original Humana production and the Aurora Theatre production are under the direction of Sean Daniels. Mr. Daniels is well known to Atlanta audiences as the founder of Dad's Garage Theatre. Daniels has a national pedigree and is currently an artistic associate at Geva Theatre Center. In the title role of everyday hero Bob is Dan Triandiflou (The Fox on the Fairway, Aurora Theatre), who was recently recognized in Creative Loafing's Best of Atlanta 2012 as this city's best local actor. Joining him onstage are many of Atlanta's funniest actors, including: Veronika Duerr, Wendy Melkonian, Doyle Reynolds and Scott Warren.

Audiences attending Bob will have an opportunity to pay tribute to their everyday heroes. In the play, Bob is driven to find greatness. However, Aurora Theatre recognizes the many people who achieve greatness through their selfless and heroic actions. A large canvas will be placed in the lobby. Audience members will be encouraged to add the names of their everyday hero to an original piece of art.

Peter Sinn Nachtrieb is a San Francisco-based playwright whose works include boom, T.I.C. (Trenchcoat in Common), Hunter Gatherers (2007 ATCA/Steinberg New Play Award, 2007 Will Glickman Prize), Colorado and Multiplex. His work has been seen off-Broadway and across the country including at Ars Nova, SPF, Woolly Mammoth, Seattle Repertory, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Cleveland Public Theatre, Wellfleet Harbor Actor's Theatre, and in the Bay Area at Encore Theatre, Killing My Lobster, Marin Theatre Company, Impact Theatre, and The Bay Area Playwrights Festival. Peter holds a degree in Theater and Biology from Brown and an MFA in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University. Peter is a member of New Dramatists, a resident playwright at the Playwrights Foundation, San Francisco and often works at the Z Space Studio in San Francisco. Find out more about Peter online at www.peternachtrieb.com.

Aurora Theatre Producing Artistic Director Anthony Rodriguez on Bob and playwright Peter Sinn Nachtrieb, "Peter's play boom served as the inaugural production in our Harvel Lab Series. That brand of smart, contemporary writing perfectly demonstrated what we would seek to produce in our Studio. boom went on to become the country's Most Produced Play in 2009. Bob is an equally compelling, universally funny story that speaks to today's society." Anthony goes on to reveal the exciting future for Bob. "Sean Daniels joined the artistic staff at Geva Theatre, one of the largest regional theatre companies in the country. He introduced me to Geva's Artistic Director Mark Cuddy. Through Geva's desire to showcase great work of companies all across the country, we will be transporting this production to Rochester, NY in March. With last season's success of Clyde 'n Bonnie: A Folktale, we continue to cultivate a national reputation for Aurora Theatre."

Cast & Crew

Dan Triandiflou Bob

Veronika Duerr Ensemble

Scott Warren Ensemble

Wendy Melkonian Ensemble

Doyle Reynolds Ensemble

Producer Anthony Rodriguez

Associate Producer Ann-Carol Pence

Director Sean Daniels

Production Manager Britt Hultgren Ramroop

Technical Director James M. Helms

Assistant Technical Director Daniel Terry

Stage Manager Kathryn M. Pelkey

Set Designer Michael B. Raiford

Costume Designer Alan Yeong

Lighting Designer Mike Post

Sound Designer Matt Callahan

Props Designer/Assistant Stage Manager EB Hooyer

Scenic Artist Sarah Thomson

Directing Assistant and Backstage Crew Jonathan Wierenga

Performances: Wednesday-Saturday at 8:00pm; Saturday & Sunday at 2:30pm. Tickets $20-$30. Wednesday Discount Matinee: February 6 at 10:00am. Tickets $16. Call 678.226.6222 or visit www.auroratheatre.com for tickets and more information.

City of Lawrenceville FREE Parking Deck attached to Aurora Theatre at 153 Crogan Street, Lawrenceville, Ga.

Pictured: Veronika Duerr and Dan Triandiflou. Photography by Ben Massey.