26 August 2008 - We had a great last night audience! Thanks to all for your support.  We’re talking to some possible hosts of future productions of Sister Cities, and have made friends here that we hope to host in Los Angeles.

25 August 2008 - Our last show. If you’re in Edinburgh, get your tickets now!

20 August 2008 - Jill was a hit in her walk on role in the panto performance with Portobello Panto from London--check our photo page--and was a great guest on the Guardian podcast with Scottish comedian Miles Jupp. You can hear it here:

(http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/audio/2008/aug/20/comedy.podcast.15)

17 August 2008 - The Independent in London ran a big story on older actors coming back to perform at the Fringe, and of course Jill was quoted talking about Sister Cities.  A sell-out crowd saw the play last evening, and loved it.  If you’re at the Fringe, get your tickets NOW!

12 August 2008 - The great reviews keep pouring in, we’ve bid our Director Elise and our actor Nickella a tearful goodbye, and are pressing on without them.  A “surprise guest” has joined us, and other friends and family are on their way.  We continue to see some of the best and the worst of theatre---aahh, it’s the Fringe

10 August 2008 - Another great review from British Theatre Review--Four Stars, and Jill wows the crowds in her appearances (last night) at the “Stephen K. Amos talk Show,” and today at “Lunch with the Hamiltons.”

9 August 2008 - People are finding out about our show through reviews and lots of community buzz! Jill did a great job as the first Fringe First awards, and the Sisters are out around town flyering like crazy!

6 August 2008 - The first cast is back, and another wonderful show! Audiences are loving the show and posting great reviews on the Fringe website. Jill’s been invited to be a celebrity presenter at the Fringe First Awards, sponsored by The Scotsman!

4 August 2008 - a new cast reconfiguration, and another great show--and our photos are up--have a look!

3 August 2008 - OUR opening was Great! Tickets are selling well, and audiences are loving the show.  Thanks to all who attended, and if you’re in Edinburgh, get your tickets now, since we’re going to sell out!

1 August 2008 - The show is up, and we’re off and running!

The Dining Room Space at the Gilded Balloon is great, and the staff couldn’t be nicer and more helpful!  We’re settled in to our new homes, and will keep you all  posted with news, reviews and photos.....stay tuned.....

7/20/08 - Thanks to all who attended the party at Elise’s home. The excitement is mounting for our international premiere!

7/19/08 - The “kegger” being hosted by Elise Robertson is TODAY!

Thanks to all who are attending for being part of our effort!

6/29/08 - Thanks to all who attended the shows in Burbank--you are part of our international team!

6/25/08 - Tickets to our performance at the Gilded Balloon in Edinburgh have already been selling! See the show in Burbank--last four performances Thursday-Sunday, June 29!

6/7/08 - We’re a HOT TICKET in the Edinburgh Evening News! Come to the play in Burbank to see why!

6/2/08 - Our fundraiser at the Matrix Theater on June 1 was a BIG success! We raised nearly $9,000!

Thanks to everyone who helped!

4/29/08 - The run at Sidewalk Studio Theatre

will be June 13-28, Friday-Sunday. Get your tickets now!

4/1/08 - Watch for our special

Benefit performance at Matrix Theatre

in LA on June 1, and a limited LA run at

the Sidewalk Studio Theatre !

3/31/08 - It’s official!

Sister Cities has been accepted by

one of the most acclaimed performance

spaces at the Festival: Gilded Balloon,

in a great space known as The Dining Room.  

ALSO, we have one of the best performance times of 6:45pm. The shows will run from 3 August  through 25 August.  

More reason than ever to be part of our team!

3/21/08 - We have scored one of the most sought after and prestigious performance spaces at the festival! Check back for the grand official announcement!!!

3/8/08 - We have our first “Uncle/Aunt” level Donors! Special thanks to Alfred Molina and Jill Gascoine Molina, and to Mark and Judy Frazin, our generous benefactors!  More to come!

2/1/08 SST Productions now has many easy ways for everyone to be supportive: Amazon, GoodSearch, GoodShop (purchases from GAP, Barnes & Noble, Target and many more). Just click from our site and you will help us reach our goal!

1/15/08 - Emberli Edwards, who wowed critics in New York with her portrayal of “Dallas” in Sister Cities, has agreed to join the effort. She will be understudy for the roles of the sisters.

12/31/07 - The Website is up

11/1/07 - The first Contribution is made

Our friend and cast member Jill Gascoine has told us that a new DVD is about to be released of her hit UK series, “The Gentle Touch.”  Watch for it from your favorite video and DVD source!

 

Our blog about our trip:

25 August: Our last performance at the Fringe, and mixed emotions about being at the end.  We’re excited about our success and the response from Fringe audiences, and sad that it’s coming to an end.  The crew has a few days to explore Scotland before jetting back to LA, so we’ll post an update or two before Friday.  To all who came to our show in Edinburgh, thanks very much, and to all who donated to our effort, we hope you are pleased with the successful use of your funding.  We’re going to end up with a deficit, so if you’re feeling even more generous, you can still make a tax-deductible donation to SST, and we ask that you continue your “painless” ways to support us, such as going to Amazon or other shopping sites from this site.

Consistently good houses, and we’ve met a new friend Ryan J-W Smith, who will present the US premiere of his acclaimed one man play “New World Order” at the Sidewalk Studio in Burbank on 9/11/08.  This will be an event not to be missed--visit www.sstproductions.org for more information.

The flu bug that’s been vexing all the cast continues to move around, but everyone is soldiering on....most of the girls (and friends) went to the “silent disco” last night after a great meal...a sell out house and a GREAT show despite all the ills......

From The Guardian, UK (with Jill’s name misspelled again):
“Nothing like a dame

Grand-dame alert as Joan Rivers and Jill Gascoigne, both doing shows at the Fringe, had a jolly drink together at the Gilded Balloon's Loft Bar after the American had watched Gascoigne in the comedy play Sister Cities. The pair ensconced themselves and their girly whispering was punctuated by shrieks of laughter, while I was nearly flattened in the rush as every drag artist in town hotfooted it there to pay homage to the divas. Rivers, by the way, is never seen off stage without her hair and make-up artists in attendance. Now that's what I call a star.

It’s hard to keep up, but another review:

Colette Freedman’s black comedy contrives to constantly amuse with crisp, observant dialogue and nicely tempered performances

 

And now, the British Theatre Guide says:

««««...a well-written, well-performed play with nicely observed characters...”

(despite misspelling Jill’s name), we loved The Edinburgh Evening News review, which said:

”...Gascoigne excels amid strong cast . . . An hour-long play that could easily have extended to 90 minutes without feeling over-long, Sister Cities will have you hanging on every word until the final curtain.”

The Stage Edinburgh Reviewer said:

"Powerful theatrical simile"..."Featuring elements of both Chekhov and sitcom" ... "Freedman's play is intriguing, literary and witty" ... "refreshing"
Tuesday, we’re back with the original crew, and a great show. The town’s abuzz about Sister Cities!

Monday....another great show, this time (since Jade’s under the weather) with Nickella taking Jade’s role as Baltimore, and Emberli on as Dallas...a good house and the new crew mixed things up! And Kurt wore his new kilt today! Click on our new “Photos at the Fringe” for some candid shots of our visit!

We’re up and running.  Nickella and Jade were real troupers, going on stage the same day they arrived in Edinburgh!  It was a great show, and audiences are loving it.  Jill has already been approached by autograph seekers, who arrived with armloads of photos to sign.....The press party was great but beastly hot.....and Jill’s interview with the The Scotsman went swimmingly---the same day she arrived in Edinburgh!

 

Tickets are selling well, so if you’re planning to come, get your tickets now!  We’ll be sharing photos soon!

“Former Gentle Touch star Jill Gascoine shines as the matriarch. . . heartfelt, warm performances... this is funny and touching stuff.”  --- The Scotsman

The List: It's as much West End fare as Fringe, but this is a smart and accomplished piece of drama, well performed by its cast.

Edinburgh Evening News: A charming and demoralising tale of sibling rivalry, Sister Cities will have you hanging on every word until the final curtain-  

 

Stage Edinburgh: Intriguing and witty play featuring elements of both Chekhov and sitcom

 

One4review: Five Stars. A beautifully constructed work with real insight and humour, this is a play that should cause us to reflect on some of the values of Western society.    

 

British Theatre Guide: Well-written with nicely observed characters that perfectly capture edginess, sibling rivalry, and underlying love -

 

Three Weeks: Absorbing from start to finish, this is funny, touching and ultimately a warm affirmation of family despite dysfunction