COLLEEN CRABTREE STARS IN NEW FILM ‘CLOSING ESCROW’

Los Angeles, CA - Actress and comedian Colleen Crabtree will play the role of Mary in Magnolia Pictures’ new comedy, “Closing Escrow.” The film is directed by Armen Kaprelian. It opens Friday, August 24, 2007 at theaters in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, Denver, and New York.

“Escrow” is the story of three quirky families seeking to buy their next home. Each has a reason for moving and a reason they don't get along with their real estate agent. All three families eventually converge on the same property which inevitably goes into multiple offers. The resulting bidding war tests the limits of their marriages and the resolve of their agents.

The film stars April Barnett, Rob Brownstein, Colleen Crabtree, Andrew Friedman, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Kirstin Pierce, Ryan Smith, Bruce Thomas, Patty Wortham, and Cedric Yarbrough.

The screenplay was written by Armen Kaprelian, and the film was produced by Kristen Cox.

Says Crabtree of her role as Mary: "It was a joy for me to play a real character that was just so human. She's so somebody I would know in my family who is sort of out of place all the time but doesn't blame anybody for it.”

Perhaps best known as the harried mother of four in Progressive Insurance commercials (“Who wants to be quiet?”), Crabtree is an award-winning voice for Disney Channel animation, Motorola, and Jimmy Dean Sausage, among others. Prior to “Escrow,” her film credits include The “Paul Decca Story” and “Amy’s O.”

On Crabtree in “Escrow,” director Armen Kaprelian raves: "It was her performance in the first 15 minutes of shooting that made me realize we had something special. Her instincts were right on the money."

The Oregon native cut her teeth in acting, writing, and improvisation as a company performer at the prestigious Groundlings Theater. She was a semi-finalist in Comedy Central's “Laugh Riots” competition after only one year of performing standup.

Crabtree recently completed filming for USA Network's “Monk.” Her co-starring episode airs August 24, the same day Magnolia Pictures releases “Escrow.” She begins work this week on the film “Opposite Day” in which she'll lead with Pauly Shore. The film will be directed by Steven Paul.

To request an interview with Colleen Crabtree, please contact Livia Squires at contact@squirespr.com, or call (310) 993-1702.

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Livia Squires
Squires Public Relations
Phone: (310) 993-1702
www.squirespr.com

Colleen Crabtree is a comedic actress and an award-winning voice for Disney Channel animation, Motorola, and Jimmy Dean Sausage, among others.

To view a clip of Colleen Crabtree in “Closing Escrow,” visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUOhZjUp0mY

To view other video demos of Colleen Crabtree’s work, visit www.myspace.com/colleencrabtree

To view the “Closing Escrow” movie trailer, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE3pPSqCopY

This release was published on openPR.