"GEM OF THE OCEAN" extends through December 21 at the Fountain Theatre. November 20, 2008

"Gem of the Ocean" is the play that begins it all - the first chronological installment in August Wilson's unprecedented decade-by-decade cycle that dramatizes the African American experience in the 20th century. Ovation and NAACP Award-winner Ben Bradley (Joe Turner's Come and Gone) directs Wilson's haunting tale about freedom and the power of redemption.

Slavery is still a living memory in "Gem of the Ocean", which is set in 1904 in Pittsburgh's Hill district. Newly arrived from Alabama, Citizen Barlow appears at the home of legendary healer and ''soul-cleanser" Aunt Ester on the eve of her 287th birthday. He is seeking solace and guidance, and Ester sends him on a magical journey across history and time that leads to startling discoveries.

"The people who pass through Aunt Ester's house are an unforgettable collection of emotionally rich, compelling and endearing characters," says producer and Fountain co-artistic director Stephen Sachs. "Her home teems with activity, a sanctuary where troubled people come to be cleansed of guilt and sorrow."

"This is a play that I've always had a tremendous amount of passion for," comments Bradley. "Unlike in his other plays, Wilson creates a world filled with mysticism and magical realism. Our production embraces these elements. I want this to be a visceral experience."

"Gem of the Ocean" runs October 11 through December 21, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm. The Fountain Theatre is located at 5060 Fountain Avenue (at Normandie) in Los Angeles. For reservations and information, call (323) 663-1525 or go to www.FountainTheatre.com.

Official Website: http://www.FountainTheatre.com