THE TRAGEDY OF THE COMMONS

Playwright Stephen Metcalfe has chosen the critically acclaimed Ruskin Group Theatre to launch the Los Angeles premiere of his play Tragedy of the Commons.  

"Superlative cast...thought-provoking production" -Backstage CRITICS PICK 

"A must see-searing drama" - LA Splash 

“Intelligently written”  - LA Weekly 

"Riveting, emotionally sustained…must see play" - Santa Monica Mirror 

“Metcalfe has written a thoughtful bit of prose about the tragedies that shape our common lives, and the Ruskin has done it justice” - LAist

In the established routines of daily life, change is never welcome.  Yet most people bend to accommodate it.  Some cannot.  Dakin and Macy Adams live seemingly serene lives with shared memories of family and friends, and they share years of waking up to the extraordinary view that is part of their home.  But the day has come when all of this is about to change, and the fragile relationship of two people is now in ever increasing jeopardy.

BRIAN KERWIN: (Dakin Adams) can currently be seen inThe Help.  He won the Theatre World Award for the Off-Broadway play, Emily, and has an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role.  Broadway credits include August: Osage County, the revival of The Little Foxes, and the Elaine May comedy After the Night and the Music.  At the Mark Taper Forum he starred in Edward Albee’s The Goat or Where’s Sylvia? and played Nick in the highly praised revival of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? withGlenda Jackson and John Lithgow.  Selected film credits include Murphy’s Romance, Hard Promises, 27 Dresses, Torch Song Trilogy, and Love Field. Numerous TV appearances include Big Love, Law & Order, Fraiser, Boston Legal, Without A Trace, and Desperate Housewives.  He starred oppositeMichelle Pfeiffer in Tales from the Hollywood Hills: Natica Jackson.  This role marks Brian’s fifth production by Stephen Metcalfe.

LESLIE HICKS (Macy Adams) was seen on Broadway inMerlin and Off-Broadway in The Gifts of the Magi.  She has garnered several awards for her performances (including aLADCC and Ovation Award).  Stage work includes numerous plays at American Conservatory Theatre, Denver Center Theatre, Alliance Theatre Company, Indiana Rep, The Hartman, StageWest (MA), The Walnut Street Theatre, The Birmingham Theatre, PlayMaker’s Rep, Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, LA Civic Light Opera and Interact Theatre Company.

EDWARD EDWARDS: (Carl Brewer) has appeared onBroadway in the Mike Nichols production of Streamers and he played the title role in The Nerd directed by Charles Nelson Reilly.  Edward garnered the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor in The Hasty Heart, and has appeared at The Ahmanson in Another Part of the Forest, and with LA Opera in Porgy and Bess. He has had numerous guest starring roles on television and can be seen in nine feature films.

AUSTIN HIGHSMITH:  (Ellen Adams-shared with Rachel Noll) can be seen in the films Dolphin Tale (currently in theaters), Dinner with Fred, Fractalus, Breathing Room, Loving Annabelle, and the web series Circle of Eight. Recent stage credits include her critically acclaimed role as Ann in Arthur Miller’s All My Sons at the Ruskin, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Unbeatable Harold, Playhouse Creatures, The Shape of Things, Dark of the Moon and several original pieces created for various theatres in Los Angeles.  Selected TV appearances include roles on Private Practice, Grey's Anatomy, Criminal Minds, Castle, Big Love, Ghost Whisperer, CSI:Miami, and CSI:NY. 

LANE COMPTON (Spencer Adams) returns to the Ruskin stage after his much lauded performance as Bert, Arthur Miller’s autobiographical character, in A Memory Of Two Mondays.  Lane has been cast in three feature films since recently moving to Los Angeles.  On television, he has co-starred on Cold Case, and last year appeared on stage for an eight month run in Hello Out There by William Saroyan.  Lane is an actor/writer/musician and creates songs for his band “The Compton Kids.” 

JEFFREY STUBBLEFIELD (Dan Gerard) was seen in Brett Neveau’s, Eagle Hills, Eagle Ridge, Eagle Landing and in the West Coast premiere of Beggars in the House of Plenty.  Selected credits in Los Angeles include The Rivals, directed by John Rubinstein, Lobby Hero, and The Cherry Orchard, as well as productions at A Noise Within.  He has recurring roles on Desperate Housewives, and on Robert Townsend’s,Diary of a Single Mom, and numerous guest-starring credits on television.  Jeffrey has appeared in the feature filmsNesting, Pedestrian, and Rhinoskin.