*CVLT to stream new play "1970" by Scott Lax, a Vietnam drama, free on YouTube starting Nov. 1*

Chagrin Valley Little Theatre <https://cvlt.org> began its 94th Season with the world premiere of *1970 *by award-winning novelist and journalist Scott Lax in September 2023. Adapted from Lax's acclaimed novel "The Year That Trembled," *1970 * is a story about war, but also about friendship, love, loss, and forgiveness, among a small group of friends. This coming-of-age story is set in the fictional village of Chestnut Falls, Ohio during the Vietnam draft.

Beginning on November 1 and continuing indefinitely, CVLT and Mr. Lax are thrilled to make one of these performances available free of charge, on CVLT’s YouTube channel. <https://www.youtube.com/@ChagrinTheatre/community>

Lax's first published his novel <https://www.grayco.com/product/year-that-trembled/> in 1998 and then produced it with Tyler Davidson as a feature film <https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0288324/> in 2002. The film, written and directed by Jay Craven, starred Jonathan Brandis, Marin Hinkle, and Fred Willard among others earned accolades at the Cleveland International Film Festival. Lax then adapted his novel again for high school drama groups. The school version was staged in 2003 and 2013 at University School under the direction of Carol Jaffee Pribble.

In 2020, finding himself struck by the parallels between the draft era and the turmoil of the COVID pandemic, Lax set about rewriting the play once more; this time it would be reworked for professional and community theaters. After several cuts, additions, and revisions, he offered Chagrin Valley Little Theatre the opportunity to premiere the new incarnation entitled *1970.*

CVLT's production, under the direction of Brian Westerley, starred Keenan Carosielli, Alison Matas Smith, Brett Heidinger, Matthew Andrus, Alex George, Donna Longfellow, Erin Moore, Cori’en Harvey, Abegail Zee, and Barry Moses.

"From the moment I proposed the idea of having a world premiere of my play to the CVLT Board of Directors," says Lax, "my collaboration with the theatre was been a great experience for me. Through the casting, set construction, rehearsals and more, we worked together day after day. Then came the amazing six-performance run, including a sold out 244-seat performance on September 30. A kind of theatre magic happened during the run of *1970*, because of a brilliant cast, superb directing by Brian Westerley, and constant support and enthusiasm by the theatre’s board and staff, as well as producer Cindee Catalano-Edelman and her talented production team. They made my play take wing and soar. I could not have been more pleased – and moved – by their performances. I am so pleased to make the video <https://youtu.be/TP6K6uxYxTw> available to the wide world. Welcome to 1970!"

For more on *1970*, see 1970theplay.com <https://www.1970theplay.com>

Chagrin Valley Little Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded through individual and corporate contributions. Our programming is made possible in part by the citizens of Cuyahoga Country through Cuyahoga County Arts and Culture and by state tax dollars allocated by the Ohio Legislature to the Ohio Arts Council (OAC). The OAC is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically.