'Love Letters' presented at ArtBar

Staff Reports

TOAD presents A.R. Gurney's "Love Letters," 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday, at the Carson Valley Arts Council ArtBar in Minden.

"Love Letters" tells the story of two childhood friends through their correspondence beginning with birthday party thank-you notes and summer camp postcards, to romantic letters through their college years, to their exchanges about their hopes and dreams over nearly 50 years of their relationship.

Due to language and adult subject matter, the play is recommended for the teens and adults.

"Love Letters" features Rich Garrett as Andrew Makepeace Ladd III and Doreen O'Skea as Melissa Gardner.

Garrett is the drama teacher at Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School, where he also teaches video production and social studies.

Garrett began his theater career in "A Christmas Carol" at age 10. He performed in musical and non-musical productions in high school and regional and semi-professional theater in Washington and Nevada. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Western European history from the Evergreen State College and a master's degree in teaching from City University.

Some of his favorite roles were Che in "Evita," John Jasper in "The Mystery of Edwin Drood," Father in "Children of Eden," Archibald in "The Secret Garden" and Rochester in "Jane Eyre." 

Since he and his family moved to Nevada four years ago, Garrett has directed 13 productions for Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School and Theatre of Arts Discipline. 

O'Skea and Garrett were friends in college and acting partners in a production of "Angel Street."

O'Skea has a Master of Arts degree in public relations from Ball State University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in theater management from the University of Portland. She works as director of alumni relations at Southern Oregon University.

She was in local and regional theater in Washington, Oregon and New York, and is a founding member of Readers Theatre Repertory of Portland. She enjoys directing and producing.

Some of her favorite acting roles were in "A Lie of the Mind," "Dancing at Lughnasa," "Angel Street" and "A Christmas Carol."

"Love Letters" is performed 7 p.m. Sept. 10 and 11, and 2 p.m. Sept. 12, at the Carson Valley Arts Council ArtBar, 1572 Highway 395, Minden.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors, available at the ArtBar, at toadinc@gmail.com or (775) 219-3577.