“Joketown” to Premiere at Cerritos College 

For Immediate Release: November 2, 2007

Media Contact:Allison Abel, Public Affairs, (562) 860-2751 ext. 7878

What would the world be like without comedy? For Cerritos College theatre instructor Forrest Hartl, the question was compelling enough to induce him to write a play. The resulting production, “Joketown,” will premiere on Thursday, Nov. 30 at the Cerritos College Burnight Center Theatre.

“Joketown” begins with the classic “guy walks into a bar” scenario. The bar is located in Joketown, and the other patrons are characters from jokes, such as the blonde and the redneck. The outsider soon finds himself in the middle of a battle, in which the very existence of comedy itself is threatened by those who view jokes as psychologically damaging.

“Part of the concept is exploring why certain jokes are so frowned upon—are they just jokes, or is there really something underneath them that’s disturbing?” says Hartl, a graduate student studying dramatic writing at USC’s School of Theatre.

Enter the magical world of Joketown, and witness the battle for the future of comedy!

WHEN: Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 6, 7, and 8 at 8 p.m.
Dec. 9 at 2 p.m.

WHERE: Burnight Studio Theatre
Cerritos College
11110 Alondra Blvd.
Norwalk, CA 90650

A map of the campus is available at www.cerritos.edu/guide. Free parking is available in parking lot C-3, in front of the Burnight building during performances.

COST: General admission tickets are $12; seniors, Cerritos College faculty and students (w/ current ID) are $10; and children (5 – 12 years) are $8. ****Please note that the play contains adult situations.****

CONTACT: For more information about the show or tickets visit www.cerritos.edu/theatre or call (562) 467-5058.
For information about group sales call (562) 860-2451 ext. 2638.

Cerritos College serves as a comprehensive community college for southeastern Los Angeles County. Communities within the college's district include Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, La Mirada, Norwalk, and portions of Bell Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs and South Gate. Cerritos College offers degrees and certificates in more than 180 areas of study in nine divisions. Annually, more than 1,200 students successfully complete their course of studies, and enrollment currently averages nearly 20,000 students. Visit Cerritos College online at www.cerritos.edu.