Announcing: Los Angeles Premiere of K2

LOS ANGELES PREMIERE OF
K2 BY PATRICK MEYERS
OPENS OCTOBER 9 AT THE UNDERGROUND THEATER
FOR SIX WEEKS ONLY

The Los Angeles premiere of K2, written by Patrick Meyers and directed by Damen Scranton, will play two lower-priced previews at the Underground Theater in Hollywood on Thursday, October 7 and Friday, October 8 at 8pm, and opening is set for Saturday, October 9, 2010, at 8pm. K2 will play a strictly limited engagement through Sunday, November 14.

K2, the mountain, is the second-tallest peak on the planet, rising to an elevation of 28,251 feet on the border between Pakistan and China. K2, the play, is a 75-minute harrowing tale of two mountain climbers who are stranded on a ledge at 27,000 feet. After an accident leaves one of the men with a severely broken leg, the two survive the night only to confront the fact that they do not have the necessary equipment to rappel to Base Camp safely. K2 is the story of two contentious friends and their struggle to solve an impossible problem. It is a tale of friendship and morality, of love and mortality, of climbing, quantum physics, and the search for God.

The cast of K2 will feature Sean Galuszka and Jake Suffian. The design team includes Laura Fine Hawkes (set), and Leigh Allen (lighting). Casting is by Steve Helgoth. Jaimie Van Dyke is the production stage manager, and K2 is being produced by Jake Suffian for K2Project.  Environmental consultant is Jessica L. Aldridge, and climbing consultant Tony Yeary will train the actors in high altitude climbing techniques using the appropriate mountaineering clothing and equipment.

K2 had its world premiere in 1982 at the Theatre by the Sea in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Followed closely by productions at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. and Syracuse Stage in Syracuse, New York, K2 opened on Broadway in 1983. Actor Jeffrey DeMunn and lighting designer Allen Lee Hughes received Tony Award nominations, and Ming Cho Lee won the Tony and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Set Design.

The Los Angeles premiere of K2 will promote environmental conservation and responsibility by using eco-friendly and recycled materials throughout the production process.  All materials will then be recycled, to the extent that they can be, at the conclusion of the run.

Also, 10% of all ticket sales will be donated to the Central Asia Institute. C.A.I. works to bring educational resources to remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Tickets for the preview performances on Thursday, October 7 and Friday, October 8 at 8pm are only $5. Beginning on opening night (Saturday, October 9 at 8:00) and at all subsequent performances, tickets are $15. The playing schedule is Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 7pm through November 14. THE MEDIA IS INVITED AND ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND THE OPENING NIGHT PERFORMANCE ON SATURDAY 10/9, BUT IS ALSO WELCOME AT ANY OTHER PERFORMANCE AFTER THAT DATE. Tickets are available now by visiting www.K2LA.org or by calling (800) 838-3006. The Underground Theater is located at 1314 N. Wilton Place in Hollywood.

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09-10-10

Announcing: Talent Manager Brad Lemack Set to Lead A Series of Free Discussions

TALENT MANAGER BRAD LEMACK SET TO LEAD
A SERIES OF FREE DISCUSSIONS
ABOUT THE NEW BUSINESS OF ACTING IN SUPPORT OF HIS NEW BOOK

THE NEW BUSINESS OF ACTING: HOW TO BUILD A CAREER IN A CHANGING LANDSCAPE

Dates Set in Los Angeles, New York and Chicago

Talent manager and author Brad Lemack has been set to lead a series of free, interactive discussions about the new business of acting in book stores and other venues in Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago in conjunction with the release of his upcoming book, The New Business of Acting: How to Build a Career in a Changing Landscape. In this expanded and updated follow-up to his popular first book, The Business of Acting: Learn the Skills You Need to Build the Career You Want, Lemack offers both young, new-to-the-business and “working” actors a vital perspective on the changing landscape in which they seek to launch and grow (or to reinvent) their professional careers.

In Los Angeles, Lemack will be at The Actors’ Network on Tuesday, September 21 at 7pm (1069 N. Fairfax Avenue in West Hollywood; open to members only); at Samuel French Bookshop on Saturday, October 9 at 1pm (7623 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood); at Book Soup on Thursday, October 14 at 7pm (8818 W. Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood); at Borders in Pasadena on Tuesday, October 19 at 7pm (415 S. Lake Avenue); and at an AFTRA Membership Education Event on Tuesday, November 9 at 7pm (5757 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles; open to members only).

In New York City, Lemack will be at the Drama Book Shop (250 West 40 Street) on Friday, October 1 at 5:30pm; and in Chicago he will appear at the Barnes & Noble located at 1441 W. Webster on Monday, October 4 at 7:30pm.

At each location, Lemack will discuss the key issues covered in the book, which teaches actors how to be smart, proactive and strategic throughout their career journeys.  The book discusses and analyzes the critical, non-performance skills actors need to build the careers they want – and how to apply those skills in positive, professional and productive ways. Key chapters explore the changing roles of agents and managers, the new demands on casting directors in the new landscape, the importance of creating, protecting and honoring your “brand,” and emotional, physical and fiscal fitness in a challenging economy.

The New Business of Acting: How to Build a Career in a Changing Landscape will be in bookstores on October 1. It is currently available in retail stores, online in both hard copy and as an eBook at www.Amazon.com and other e-tailers, and at www.TheBusinessOfActing.com.

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09-07-10

Announcing: Erich Bergen Set to Debut Club Act

FORMER “JERSEY BOYS” STAR ERICH BERGEN
SET TO DEBUT CLUB ACT AT MAGIC CASTLE IN LOS ANGELES
AND WILL APPEAR IN VENICE AT KIRK DOUGLAS THEATRE

In celebration of his first solo CD release, former Jersey Boys star Erich Bergen will debut his new club act at The Magic Castle in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 15 at 8pm, and following that performance, he will be appearing at Center Theatre Group’s Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City as part of the cast of Venice from October 7 through November 14.

Erich Bergen recently completed a three-year run starring as Bob Gaudio in the Tony and Grammy Award-winning Jersey Boys, as part of the Los Angeles, San Francisco, First National Tour and Las Vegas companies. Other recent credits include Gossip Girl (CW Network), White Christmas (Pantages Theatre), and A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (Reprise).  In 2009, he co-produced, directed, and served as musical director for Las Vegas Celebrates the Music of Michael Jackson, a benefit concert which raised $118,000 for Music Education in Nevada public schools.

“Erich Bergen, as Bob Gaudio, is the show’s breakout star.  With his lanky good looks and vibrant intensity, his charisma feeds off the spotlight,” said Charles McNulty in his Los Angeles Times review of Jersey Boys.  Said Steve Freiss in Las Vegas Weekly, “Bergen has a youthful and affable presence, an ability to play with audience expectations, a willingness to take risks and a confidence that does not come across as arrogance.”  And, Bonnie Priever at Examiner.com said, “Erich Bergen is a star on stage … a fresh, promising, musical talent.”

Bergen’s CD, titled The Vegas Sessions, will feature new studio recordings of original compositions in the pop genre, along with live tracks recorded during three sold out Las Vegas appearances at the Liberace Museum in April, 2009. The disc will be available for purchase at the Magic Castle on September 15, and then October 1 at Amazon.com, CD Baby, iTunes and other digital music outlets.

The Inner Circle at The Magic Castle (7001 Franklin Avenue in Hollywood) will host Bergen’s California club act debut on Wednesday, September 15 at 8pm (doors open at 6:30pm).  Tickets are on sale now, at $15 for Magic Castle members and $25 for guests; there is VIP seating available for $50, which includes a copy of the CD, a post-show reception, meet-and-greet and a champagne toast.   Reservations  can be made at boxoffice@magiccastle.com or by calling (323) 851-3313, ext. 303.  Attire at the Magic Castle requires jackets and ties for gentlemen, and absolutely no denim.

Bergen will appear in the world premiere of Venice, a new musical with book by Eric Rosen, music by Matt Sax and lyrics by Matt Sax and Eric Rosen with additional music by Curtis Moore, at Center Theatre Group’s Kirk Douglas Theatre.  Beginning previews on October 7 with an official opening set for October 17, the limited engagement will run through November 14 only.  Due to Erich’s participation in this exciting new production, his previously announced concert date at the Rrazz Room in San Francisco will be rescheduled for early 2011.

Visit Erich Bergen at www.erichbergen.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/erichbergenfans, and follow Erich on twitter @erichbergen.

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09-03-10

The Magic Castle, located at 7001 Franklin Avenue in Hollywood, is the world’s most famous club for magicians and magic enthusiasts as well as the home to The Academy of Magical Arts, Inc.  Known worldwide as the showplace for some of the greatest magicians from around the globe, its latest artistic contribution, the Cabaret at the Castle, has also become the cabaret stage at which to appear in Los Angeles and whose recent performers have included Carol Channing, Florence Henderson, Lee Roy Reams, JoAnne Worley, Jason Graae, Ilene Graff, Rachel York, and the recent addition, once a month, of the popular New York hit Cast Party with Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch.