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# Crossroads theater enters political arena this month with new plays
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/crossroads-theater-enters-political-arena-this-month-with-new-plays/
- Published: 2003-08-08T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T02:42:10.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Government & Politics, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By Daily Press staff*

Crossroads Theater is getting political this month with two new plays.

The Charlie B. Company will start the first politically-themed play on Aug. 8 called, “We Won’t Pay! We Won’t Pay!”

The production is a farce of two Italian housewives who are forced to steal groceries while concealing it from their husbands. But the men also have a few surprises up their sleeves, adding to the continuous line of hilarious events.

The second play, Terrence McNally’s Vietnam-era comedy, “Where has Tommy Flowers Gone?” introduces the audience to the title character, a rebel during the flower-power generation taking it upon himself to change the world, but eventually hurting himself in the process.

The Charlie B. Company was founded in 2001 by Andy Donald and Daniel Hartley, graduates of the Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences. The two best friends have known each other since kindergarten and performed their first play together in fifth grade.

Since its inception, the Charlie B. Company has expanded from four members to 27 and has enjoyed success. Their first play, “This Is Our Youth” sold out all five performances at the Santa Monica Playhouse, a trend followed by their later production “Baby with the Bathwater.”

The members of the company have chosen to dedicate this summer’s performances to politically themed plays.

“We wanted to use our art to comment on what is going on in the world,” Donald said.

Both plays will be performed by young actors currently enrolled in universities such as Sarah Lawrence College, Vassar College, and UC Berkeley. The plays also will include performers such as Brooke Bloom, who has previously appeared on “ER” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and Billy Aaron Brown, star of “8 Simple Rules for Dating My Daughter.”

The plays will run five times, beginning with “We Won’t Pay! We Won’t Pay!” from Aug. 8-10 and followed by “Where Has Tommy Flowers Gone?” from Aug. 14-17\. Both plays will be performed at Crossroads Theater, located at 1714 21st Street. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors. For reservations call (310) 829-7391, ext. 224.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 8, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/080803.pdf?ref=smdp.com)