PRESS PHOTOS

American Conservatory Theater in association with Magic Theatre presents the West Coast premiere of

by Carey Perloff
directed by Mark Rucker
Nov 29 – Dec 30, 2006
featuring A.C.T. acting company members René Augesen and Gregory Wallace

All photos by David Wilson. Click the photos for print-resolution versions.

Archaelogist Angela Hart (René Augesen) examines the broken arm of a statue stolen by her friend Victor Reid (Gregory Wallace) from an excavation in Cyprus led by Angela's professional nemisis and former lover Nigel Richards. The arm may belong to a 4th century BC sculpture of Aphrodite--a statue that Angela has spent the better part of her career trying to find.

After having left her without word following their affair the previous year, Nigel (Stephen Barker Turner) returns to the studio of his former partner Angela (René Augesen) to surprise her with his latest discoveries from his dig in Cyprus.

Late at night in her studio, Angela (René Augesen) is interrupted by the mysterious cleaning woman (Ching Valdez-Aran) who seems to know perhaps a little too much about the subject of Angela's relentless pursuit: Aphrodite.

Military historian Nigel (Stephen Barker Turner, right), Nigel's former student Victor (Gregory Wallace, left), and his former lover Angela (René Augesen) form the triangle of obsessed academics who attempt to champion professional ambition over their own personal passions in Luminescence Dating.

The relentless pursuit of the statue of the love goddess Aphrodite (Ching Valdez-Aran, background) awakens the passions of professional rivals and former lovers Angela (René Augesen) and Nigel (Stephen Barker Turner).

Aphrodite (Ching Valdez-Aran) confesses to the troubles of being the world's oldest love object.