Romantic comedy at Queen Mary

LONG BEACH - "The Poetry of Pizza," a self-proclaimed "cheesy" romantic comedy by Deborah Brevoort, opens Feb. 19 at the Queen Mary's Royal Theater.In "The Poetry of Pizza," love blossoms when two unlikely soul mates - an American poetry professor and a Kurdish refugee - find each other in a most unexpected setting: a pizza parlor in Copenhagen. Director Anne Justine D'Zmura explained that, in fusing romance with weightier themes, the play "speaks to the idea of accepting the other, of opening ourselves up to new experiences, questioning previous judgments and stereotypes, and celebrating our differences." "The Kurdish struggle with genocide has been extraordinary, yet most Americans remain unaware. We are so distracted by our own culture, a blanket that often covers our eyes," D'Zmura said. California Repertory Company is producing the play, which runs Feb. 19 - March 13. Tickets are $20 general admission; $16 for students, military and seniors 55 and older. Parking at the Queen Mary is $8 for theatergoers, and $6 for Cal State Long Beach students and people who have dinner aboard the ship. For more information, including performance times, call (562) 985-5526 or visit www.calrep.org.

********** Published: February 5, 2010 - Volume 8 - Issue 42