The Waterfront Playhouse will present one of the hottest titles being performed throughout the country. Sex With Strangers, written by Laura Eason (“House of Cards”) and directed by Patrick New (“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,”“Under the Hunter’s Moon”) will hold its opening on April 11. This performance will be followed by an after party in the garden opposite the theatre.

Sex With Strangers tells the story of Olivia, an attractive, talented and under-appreciated writer just one big step away from success, and Ethan, a hot young writer whose online journals about his “sexcapades” with strangers have become the buzz of the blogosphere. When unexpectedly trapped in a secluded cabin during a winter storm, opposites attract. The chemistry is hot and the sex electric. As their literary futures become intimately intertwined, both writers confront who they are, what they really want and how much they are willing to change to get it.

Melanie Keller will play Olivia. A native of Chicago, she is the associate artistic director of First Folio Theatre, where she directed “All Childish Things,” “Mary’s Wedding” and “Silent Sky.” Acting credits at First Folio include “The Merchant of Venice,” “Blithe Spirit,” “Turn of the Screw,” “Twelfth Night” and “Private Lives.” Acting credits with Signal Ensemble include “East of Berlin” and “The Russian Play” (Jeff Award, Best Actress), “The Weir” (Jeff nomination, Best Supporting Actress), “She Stoops to Conquer” and “Much Ado About Nothing.” Additional acting work includes the Stratford Festival of Canada, Peninsula Players, Lakeside Shakespeare, Michigan Shakespeare Festival, the Goodman Theatre, Northlight, Chicago Shakespeare, Storefront Theatre of Indianapolis and she recently played Lady Macbeth at Oak Park Festival. Film and television credits include “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago PD” and the short film, “UberEx.”

Tim Torre, who plays Ethan, is a Los Angeles-based storyteller who has worked on more than 50 professional film/television/industrial projects and more than 35 theatrical productions. Major credits include: 1st Stage Theatre; Flying V Theatre (Helen Hayes nomination); Alex Chesler in “Loco” with Craig Stark, “Maestro” with Geffri Maya; Sean in “Against the Night” with Frank Whaley; Lance in “Love You Thank You;” principal work on Comedy Central, Investigation Discovery, the U.S. Navy, as well as an abundance of lead roles and awards in the independent film scene. Torre has cycled through the film festival circuit, including the Independent Short Awards, the International Hollywood Film Festival, Indie Fest, NOVA, Dances with Films, the Indie Gathering, D.C. Independent Film Festival and Indie Capitol.

“Sex With Strangers” is designed by Michael Boyer; lighting design is by Kim Hanson and stage manager is Peggy Montgomery.

Sex with Strangers
Waterfront Playhouse
April 11-27
Discounted previews on April 9 and 10
For tickets: 305-294-5015 or waterfrontplayhouse.org.