Rubicon Theatre Company presents the American premiere of "eXtras" by Sabina Berman

VENTURA, Calif. - April 4, 2016 - PRLog -- Rubicon Theatre Company continues the 2015-2016 Season with another American premiere -- eXtras  by Sabina Berman. Loosely adapted from Marie Jones' Olivier Award-winning comedy Stones in His Pockets, eXtras is the hilarious story of what happens when a Hollywood film company descends upon a small California/Mexico border town to shoot a major motion picture, wreaking havoc on the fragile ecosystem of the community. eXtras opens at Rubicon Theatre Company on Saturday, April 16 at 7:00 p.m. The show runs through May 1.

Two acclaimed and accomplished stars of stage, television and film - brothers Brunoand Odiseo Bichir -- make their U.S. stage debuts in the Rubicon production. The two play more than 15 characters: producer, starlet, director, crew, and locals, some of who are cast as 'extras' on the set, and all of whom have different dreams and desires. Bruno is an Ariel Award-winner (the Mexican Academy Award) and currently may be seen on "The Bridge" on FX and "Narcos" on Netflix. Odiseo has been honored with awards from the Association of Mexican Theatre Critics, Theatre Newspaper Group, the National Actors' Association, and the International Theatre Institute (ITI) UNESCO. He has appeared in more than 30 Telenovas and had recurring roles in three television series. Both Bruno and Odiseo have played leading roles in numerous films distributed in Mexico, the U.S., and throughout the world; and they are part of a legendary family of artists dedicated to the performing arts in Mexico. Father Alejandro Bichir is a distinguished theatre director, mother Maricruz Nájera is a beloved actress, and third brother Demián Bichir (Oscar nominee in 2011 for "A Better Life"/star of the FX series "The Bridge") is also an actor of great renown. Bruno Bichir, in his U.S. directing debut, helms the Rubicon production, taking inspiration from Berman's original staging.

Rubicon's production also features pre-show music created by 17-year-old composer/performer Maya Burns, a young rising star that has opened for Linda Ronstadt and recorded multiple CD's. Burns and her combo will perform original music in Ranchero, Corrido and Mexican Surfer Rock styles starting thirty minutes before curtain (the house will open forty minutes prior).

Regular performances of eXtras are in English (with some Spanglish, the vernacular of the characters), Wednesdays at 2 and 7 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Spanish-language performances have been added Tuesday, April 19 and Sunday, May 1 at 7 p.m. Low-priced daytime student matinees for high school and college students are scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday April 15 and 22 in Spanish, and Friday, April 29 at 10 a.m. in English/Spanglish. For tickets, go to www.rubicontheatre.org or call the Rubicon Box Office at (805) 667-2900.

More about the Playwright
eXtras is adapted by Sabina Berman, who is a Mexico City-based storyteller, essayist, media personality, filmmaker and theatre director.  She is regarded as one of the most prolific and daring writers of her country and her generation. Four-time winner of the National Playwriting Award in Mexico (Premio Nacional de Dramaturgia en México) and the Juan Ruiz de Alarcon Award (Premio Juan Ruiz de Alarcón), Berman has also twice won the National Journalism Award (Premio Nacional de Periodismo). Her plays have been staged in the Americas, and her novel "Me" ("La mujer que buceó en el corazón del mundo") has been translated into 11 languages and published in 33 countries.

Director and Actor Bruno Bichir Makes U.S. Stage Debut
Bruno Bichir makes his U.S. stage debut as both director and actor with eXtras. Bruno won the Ariel, the Mexican Academy Award, in 1994 for "Best Actor" for his performance in Arturo Riptein's "Principio y Fin," based on the novel by Nobel Prize-winner Naguib Mahfouz. He is the recipient of seven additional Ariel nominations, honoring his performances in "El Patrullero," "Golpe de Suerte," "El Jardín del Eden," (for which he won Best Supporting Actor at the International Film Festival of Cartagena, Colombia), "El Anzuelo," "Amorosos Fantasmas," "El Evangelio de las Maraveillas," and "Crónica de un Desayuno." Bruno produced the latter, which won the Caligari Film Award at the 2001 Berlin International Film Festival.

Bruno appears on the second season of the critically acclaimed TV series "The Bridge" alongside Diane Kruger and his brother Demián in the role of Marco, a businessman who is not what he seems. Bruno may also currently be seen as Escobar's lawyer Fernando Duque in the acclaimed TV series "Narcos" for Netflix. (He just completed shooting for Season 2.)

Actor Odiseo Bichir in First U.S. Stage Appearance
Odiseo Bichir, who also makes his U.S. stage debut with eXtras, has been honored with awards from the Association of Mexican Theatre Critics, Theatre Newspaper Group, Theater Critics and Newspaper Group, The Harlequin, and The Cabrito de Plato of Monterrey N.L., among others. He was awarded the Medal of 25 Years Recognition from National Actors' Association, "My Life in Theatre" Medal from the Mexican Theatre Center, and the International Theatre Institute (ITI) UNESCO award.

Odiseo began his stage career in 1972 with the play Immaculate and has since spent his career performing diverse roles in television, theatre and film. He has appeared in leading roles in nearly 30 Telenovelas and has had recurring roles in three television series.

To order tickets for eXtras, call the Rubicon Box Office at (805) 667-2900 or visit in person at 1006 E. Main Street (Laurel entrance), 7 days a week from Noon to 6:00 p.m. Single tickets for each of the shows are also on sale and available via the box office.