World Premiere of “Hit the Road, Jack” July 10, 2009

The Festival Playhouse presents the World Premiere of

Hit the Road, Jack

by Pat Cook

Directed by Charles Ault

Opening on Friday, July 10 the Festival Playhouse presents the world premiere of “Hit the Road, Jack,” a new family comedy by an American icon of play writing, Pat Cook.

“Hit the Road, Jack” runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. & Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 on Fridays and Saturdays and $13 on Sundays through July 25 and available by calling 303-422-4090 or online at www.festivalplayhouse.com. The Festival Playhouse is located at 5665 Olde Wadsworth Blvd in Arvada.

“Accidents will happen,” Jack Gunderson is fond of saying at work. “That’s not a good motto, Dad,” his son Trevor keeps telling him. He has a point since the two run the Gunderson Driving Academy, especially since the business is just about to be closed down. When Officer Monica Palmer warns the guys about this they protest she is exaggerating. “You’re last student sideswiped a parade!” she points out. As if this weren’t enough on their plate the Gunderson’s also have to contend with a lovesick student, a bank vice president who plays the horses and Mac, a sinister character whom only Jack can see for some reason, as well as a host of other odd-ball characters. From the same author of “Barbecuing Hamlet,” “Those Crazy Ladies in the House on the Corner” and “New Kid on the Block.”

Pat Cook got his first taste of seeing his work in print when he was still in high school, writing for the school paper. Then, during the summers, he wrote a column for his hometown newspaper. It wasn't until college, however, when he saw the movie version of Neil Simon's The Odd Couple that he decided to try his hand at writing plays.

His first one-act was produced at Lon Morris Junior College and has since vanished in some forgotten trash can. After moving to Houston in 1970, he soon found other writing assignments at AstroWorld, educational radio, night clubs and local television.

His first play, Rest In Peace, was published in 1976. Still, writing was only a sideline along with several other odd jobs, which included playing piano in pizza parlors, acting in local commercials, industrial films and on stage, building scenery and selling pianos and organs.

As of this writing, Pat Cook now has over one hundred and thirty plays published by seven publishers in the United States and England. He has also had some of his works translated into German and Dutch.

Charles Ault, Sr. started The Player Guild in 1936 as a means to put food on the table in the middle of the depression. A love for the theatre and a creative mind brought a group of talented community actors and actresses together to provide the public with live entertainment. This concept was passed on to his son Charley Ault, Jr. who now runs The Players Guild.

The Festival Playhouse - World Premiere of “Hit the Road, Jack”

The world premiere of this new family comedy by an American icon of play writing, Pat Cook. July 10 - 25 - Fri\Sat 8 p.m. & Sun at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 Fri\Sat; $13 Sun. The Festival Playhouse, 5665 Olde Wadsworth Blvd. Box Office: 303-422-4090 or festivalplayhouse.com - Appropriate for all ages.