Theater makes for the perfect escape when an island

getaway is not in the cards.

Now those hit with a case of wanderlust can visit a

collection of American landmarks in the premiere of “See Rock City and Other

Destinations.”

The show opened Saturday, Feb. 23 and continues

every Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 5 pm through March 24 at the Santa Monica

Little Theatre located at 12420 Santa Monica Boulevard (between Centinela and

Carmelina).

This heartfelt road trip around the U.S. is one of the

honest gems to come from the off-Broadway scene in recent years and picked up a

Drama Desk and Richard Rogers Award for its intelligent storytelling.

This show is made up of short vignettes, small American

plays that attempt to answer the questions of what we seek and what holds us

back from realizing the things we want. Told through story songs, the

production feels akin to a particularly good episode of “This American Life” on

NPR and illuminates some of life’s tougher questions by refusing to answer them

directly.

This musical with genuine heart features book by Adam

Mathias and music by Brad Alexander. The composer, who describes the core

takeaway of the show as “moving past your expectations in order to connect,”

has also been involved in the Los Angeles production as a resource for the cast

and creative.

Truly a show for anyone who ever wondered if they were

on the right path, the show’s universality is part of what makes it so genuine

– audience members may find themselves in one or more of the characters who

take the stage. 

And while the show keeps up the pace with its humor, the

stories push theatergoers to question basic anxieties or fears – of connecting,

of missing out, of seeking, of believing, or no longer being able to believe.

General admission is $20; seniors are $15.

For more information or tickets, visit www.colorandlighttheatre.org.