Announcing: Why Torture is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them

CATHERINE HICKS, ALEC MAPA, NICHOLAS BRENDON, CHRISTINE ESTABROOK
COMPLETE CAST FOR THE BLANK THEATRE COMPANY’S PRODUCTION OF  CHRISTOPHER  DURANG’S
WHY TORTURE IS  WRONG,  AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM
WEST COAST PREMIERE  BEGINS PREVIEWS JANUARY 30, 2010
AT THE STELLA ADLER  THEATRE IN HOLLYWOOD

Casting is complete and rehearsals have begun for The Blank Theatre Company’s second production of its 19th season, Why Torture Is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them by Christopher Durang.  Directed by The Blank’s Artistic Director Daniel Henning, Why Torture is Wrong will begin preview performances on Saturday, January 30, 2010 and is set to open on Saturday, February 6 at 8pm. The engagement will run through Sunday, March 14.

The cast, in alphabetical order, includes Nicholas Brendon (Buffy, The Vampire Slayer and Santaland Diaries at The Blank), Christine Estabrook (Spring Awakening on Broadway, Desperate Housewives), Mike Genovese (ER, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at The Blank), Catherine Hicks (7th Heaven, Child’s Play), Sunil Malhotra (24, ER), Alec Mapa (Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives) and Rhea Seehorn (The Starter Wife, Trust Me).

Renowned award-winning playwright Christopher Durang turns political humor upside down with this raucous and provocative satire about America’s growing homeland “insecurity.” A young woman is suddenly in crisis:  is her new husband, whom she married when drunk, a terrorist? Or just crazy?  Or both?  Is her father’s hobby of butterfly collecting really a cover for his involvement in a shadow government?  Why does her mother enjoy going to the theatre so much?  Does she seek mental escape, or is she insane?  Honing in on our private terrors both at home and abroad, Durang oddly relieves our fears in this black comedy for an era of yellow, orange and red alerts.  Why Torture is Wrong had its world premiere at New York’s Public Theater in the spring of 2009.

The set design for Why Torture Is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them is by Jeff G. Rack, costume design is by Michael Mullen, lighting design is by R. Christopher Stokes, and sound design is by Warren Davis.  The producers are Stacy Reed, Noah Wyle and Jon Van Middlesworth.

The Blank’s productions have garnered rave reviews, audience acclaim, and numerous theatrical honors.  Over the years, The Blank has been nominated for 23 Ovation Awards (winning five), 14 L.A. Drama Critics Circle Awards (winning 12), 21 L.A. Weekly Awards (winning seven), 12 NAACP Theatre Awards (winning four), and has won 17 Back Stage Garland Awards.

Preview performances of Why Torture Is Wrong are Saturday, January 30 at 8pm, Sunday, January 31 at 2pm, and Tuesday, February 2 – Friday, February 5 at 8pm.  Opening night is set for Saturday, February 6 at 8:00. THE MEDIA IS ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND THE SPECIAL PRESS PREVIEW NIGHT ON FRIDAY 2/5, BUT IS ALSO WELCOME AT ANY OTHER PERFORMANCE AFTER THAT. The regular performance schedule is Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm through March 14.  Prices range from $22-$28, and tickets may be purchased by calling (323) 661-9827 or online at www.TheBlank.com.

The Stella Adler Theatre is located at 6773 Hollywood Boulevard (2nd Floor), in Hollywood. Validated parking ($2) is available at the Hollywood and Highland complex.

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01-20-10  (rev)

Announcing: Barbra’s Wedding

BARBRA’S WEDDING
BY DANIEL STERN
DIRECTED BY JOHN G. COPPOLA
GUEST PRODUCTION AT THE BLANK THEATRE COMPANY’S 2ND STAGE THEATRE

OPENS FEBRUARY 11, 2010, FOR FOUR WEEKS ONLY

Studio C Productions in association with Michelle Appezzato is proud to present Barbra’s Wedding, a comedy by Daniel Stern, for four weeks only as a guest production at The Blank Theatre Company’s 2nd Stage Theatre.  Barbra’s Wedding will open on Thursday, February 11 and run through March 7 only.

Barbra’s Wedding tells the tale of Jerry and Molly Schiff, the only non-celebrities in their Malibu neighborhood; their shabby beachfront ranch sits next to Barbra Streisand’s mansion.  On the day of their famous neighbor’s 1998 wedding, the Schiffs are more than a bit unnerved by the limos clogging the streets, the helicopters hovering noisily overhead and news crews broadcasting from their front lawn.

Daniel Stern is best known for his acting work in the films City Slickers, Diner and Home Alone (among others), and for his voiceover work in the hugely popular ABC television series The Wonder Years.  Directed by John G. Coppola (helmer of over 25 productions in Los Angeles, New York and abroad), the cast of Barbra’s Wedding will feature Mary Beth Evans (best known for her work on the daytime drama Days of Our Lives) and Wilson Green (many appearances in The Blank’s Living Room Series and Young Playwrights Festivals; General Hospital and Passions). The design team includes set by Brent Mason, sound by Warren Davis, and costumes by Robert Saduski. The stage manager is Yuki Sagara.

Beginning on Thursday, February 11, Barbra’s Wedding will play three performances each weekend on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00.  There are two additional matinees on Sunday 2/28 and Sunday 3/7 at 2pm. THE MEDIA IS ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND THE OPENING NIGHT PERFORMANCE ON FEBRUARY 11, BUT IS ALSO WELCOME AT ANY OTHER PERFORMANCE. The four-week only engagement will end on Sunday, March 7.  Tickets are $20 and may be purchased by visiting www.barbraswedding.com or by calling (866) 811-4111. Performances will take place at The Blank Theatre Company’s 2nd Stage Theatre, 6500 Santa Monica Boulevard (at Wilcox) in Hollywood.  Secured valet parking is available.

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01-18-10

Announcing: Wirehead

THE ECHO THEATER COMPANY PRESENTS THE WORLD PREMIERE OF
WIREHEAD
BY MATTHEW BENJAMIN & LOGAN BROWN
DIRECTED BY LARRY BIEDERMAN
OPENS FEBRUARY 13, 2010 AT STAGE 52 IN LOS ANGELES

The Echo Theater Company is proud to present the world premiere of Wirehead, a new play by Matthew Benjamin and Logan Brown, directed by Larry Biederman. Wirehead begins performances on February 11 and is set to open on Saturday, February 13 at 8:00pm.  The engagement runs through Sunday, March 14 only.

Wirehead is a hilarious and provocative cautionary tale that contemplates the evolving synthesis of technology and humanity.  Wires, chips and chargers designed to enhance the mind prove too good for the mind to handle.  Short-circuited by resentment and jealousy in the hands of humans, too much intelligence now possessed by the non-human electronic elements has riotous and gruesome results.

Directed by award-winning theatre director Larry Biederman, the cast of Wirehead will feature (in alphabetical order) Jeremy Maxwell, Riel Paley, Ethan Phillips (“Star Trek: Voyager”), Marc Rose, Amanda Saunders, and Sam Shelton.  The critically acclaimed design team includes set by Efren Delgadillo, Jr., lighting by Dan Weingarten, sound by Drew Dalzell, and costumes by Audrey Eisner. Producers for the Echo Theater Company are Lauren Bass and Chris Fields.

Wirehead will play two preview performances on Thursday, February 11 and Friday, February 12 at 8:00pm.  Opening night is set for Saturday, February 13 at 8:00. THE MEDIA IS ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND THE OPENING NIGHT PERFORMANCE ON FEBRUARY 13, BUT IS ALSO WELCOME AT ANY OTHER PERFORMANCE. The five-week only engagement will end on Sunday, March 14.  Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm and Sundays at 7:00pm at Stage 52, located at 5299 W. Washington Boulevard in Los Angeles, 90016.  Tickets are $20 and may be purchased by visiting www.echotheatercompany.com or by calling 800-413-8669.

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01-14-10