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Announcing: David Crosby to Perform at Blank Theatre Benefit

LEGENDARY SINGER-SONGWRITER AND ACTIVIST
DAVID CROSBY
SET TO PERFORM HIS FIRST SOLO SHOW IN 20 YEARS
TO BENEFIT THE BLANK THEATRE COMPANY
MONDAY, DECEMBER 13 AT AVALON HOLLYWOOD

Two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honoree David Crosby (The Byrds; Crosby, Stills & Nash) will give a rare, intimate concert to benefit The Blank Theatre Company, at Avalon Hollywood on Monday December 13, 2010 at 7:30pm. Hosted by The Blank’s Artistic Producer Noah Wyle, the evening will be David Crosby’s first solo Los Angeles performance in 20 years. The evening will feature new unrecorded material and fan favorites.

Said Crosby, “My friend Noah Wyle took me to see a few of The Blank’s shows. I was duly impressed by the quality of production and the daring nature of the work. Supporting The Blank is just one small way that I can help.” Added Wyle, “When David told me he wanted to play a benefit show for us, I was so touched that he felt inclined to respond to our work with his music. It is a rare and humbling honor for our organization.”

Tickets for the concert are priced at $250 (includes premium floor seating and exclusive after-show reception with David Crosby and Noah Wyle), $100, $75 and $50. They can be purchased online at www.TheBlank.com, or by calling (323) 661-9827. The Blank is a 501c3 non-profit arts organization; the ticket price is tax-deductible, Federal Tax ID# 95-4309846. The benefit is being produced by The Blank Theatre Company in conjunction with Black and Tan Entertainment and The Guacamole Fund.

Avalon Hollywood is located at 1735 N. Vine Street, in Hollywood.

About David Crosby

A California native, David Crosby is a legendary guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is also an activist and a philanthropist. In addition to his solo career, he was a founding member of three bands: The Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash (who are joined by Neil Young sometimes), and CPR. Crosby is a two-time member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his work in The Byrds and CSN. Crosby also performs often with his band-mate and dear friend Graham Nash on record and on tour. In 1971, Crosby released his first of four solo albums, If I Could Only Remember My Name, featuring contributions by Nash, Young, and Joni Mitchell, along with members of Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, and Santana. The album was recently named by The Vatican on its top ten list of all-time albums.

Crosby is also a long-time activist supporting a multitude of social issues. His second book entitled Stand and Be Counted chronicles music activism and social awareness. It was also a critically acclaimed two part documentary television film that aired on TLC. Besides his recent induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Crosby was MusiCares, NARAS’ (The Grammys) philanthropic arm, first Person of the Year.

For further information regarding David Crosby, contact Michael Jensen at (626) 676-9590 or via email at info@jensencom.com.

About The Blank Theatre Company

Now in its 20th year, The Blank’s productions have consistently garnered rave reviews, audience acclaim, and numerous theatrical honors. Over the years, The Blank has been nominated for 23 Ovation Awards and won five including Best Musical; 15 L.A. Drama Critics Circle Awards, winning 13 including Outstanding Production; 24 L.A. Weekly Awards, winning seven including Musical of the Year; 12 NAACP Theatre Awards, winning four including Best Production; and won 17 Back Stage Garland Awards. The Blank was awarded the Hollywood Arts Council’s coveted Charlie Award for “pursuing artistic excellence, nurturing the next generation of playwrights, and challenging itself with a grand vision.” The Drama League called The Blank one of the “Best Regional Theatres in America.”

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11-15-10

Announcing: The Moth Theatre presents The Blue Room

The Moth Theatre Presents David Hare’s
THE BLUE ROOM
Directed by John Markland

Opens December 2, 2010 for 12 Performances Only

The Moth Theatre has announced their production of The Blue Room, David Hare’s 1998 play, which caused quite a sensation when it was first produced in London and subsequently on Broadway over a decade ago. Directed by John Markland, The Blue Room will open on December 2 and run for twelve performances only through December 19.

There is a common thread that links us all. Contact. Acceptance. Seeing, and maybe more importantly, being seen. Based on La Ronde by Arthur Schnitzler, The Blue Room offers a rotation of people spinning on this thread … each person, in his or her own way, expressing an honesty that gives birth to intimacy. The audience plays voyeur, witnessing just how fragile and elusive that thread can be. The Blue Room is for mature audiences only. It contains adult themes, language, and nudity.

The cast will feature (in alphabetical order) Lili Bordan, Scott Dunn, Alice Fulks, Pamela Guest, Justin Huen, Patrick Scott Lewis, James Mendoza, Jan Milewicz, Addison Timlin, and Kate Towne. The design team includes set by Benoit Guerin, lighting by Jenna Pletcher, costume design by Regine Linhares, sound design by Priscilla Watson, and video design by Brian Andrew Mendoza. The production stage manager is Melina Franks, and the producer for the Moth Theatre is Efrain Schunior.

The Blue Room is set to open on Thursday, December 2 at 8pm. The regular performance schedule is Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 6pm. Admission is $20; tickets are on sale now and may be purchased by visiting www.brownpapertickets.com/event/135312 or www.moththeatre.com. There will be absolutely no late seating.

On Saturday evenings, the Moth invites patrons to stay and enjoy Night Light, a post-performance social hour with refreshments, live music and more.

The Moth Theatre is located at 4359 Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, 90029. Entrance to the theatre is through the alley in the back, on Heliotrope. Street parking is available.

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11-11-10

Announcing: Melanie Jones Joins The Little Flower of East Orange

MELANIE JONES JOINS CAST OF ELEPHANT THEATRE COMPANY’S
WEST COAST PREMIERE OF
THE LITTLE FLOWER OF EAST ORANGE
BY STEPHEN ADLY GUIRGIS
DIRECTED BY DAVID FOFI

OPENS NOVEMBER 12 AT THE LILLIAN THEATRE

Former artistic director of Little Fish Theatre Melanie Jones has joined the cast of The Little Flower of East Orange by Stephen Adly Guirgis, it was announced today by Elephant artistic director David Fofi. Ms. Jones replaces the previously announced Katherine Helmond, who has left the production due to prior contractual obligations. Opening night is set for Friday, November 12, and The Little Flower of East Orange will play a strictly limited engagement through December 19.

Said Fofi, “Losing Katherine was devastating news for us, but we couldn’t be more thrilled that Melanie, a highly accomplished and respected actress, was available to step in so we could accommodate Katherine’s unexpected schedule shift.”

Melanie Jones began her professional career at age 16 with the Hartford Stage Company. A graduate of Brown University, she acted and directed for 10 seasons at Trinity Rep in Providence, RI. While artistic director of Little Fish Theatre in San Pedro, she appeared in productions of The School for Scandal, Hay Fever, Deathtrap, and Tooth and Nail. Directed by Fofi, and along with Jones, the cast of The Little Flower of East Orange features Michael Friedman, and (in alphabetical order) Mark Adair-Rios, LeShay Tomlinson Boyce, Kim Estes, Alejandro Furth, Kate Huffman, Timothy McNeil, Marisa O’Brien, Tom Stanczyk, and Tim Starks. The production design is by Joel Daavid, costume design is by Louis Douglas Jacobs, and sound design is by Matt Richter. Shannon Simonds is the production stage manager, and Little Flower is being produced for the Elephant by Lindsay Allbaugh and Tara Norris. Executive producer is Greg Borrud.

The Little Flower tale begins as Therese Marie (Jones) arrives in the emergency room of a small hospital in the Bronx. The nurses and doctors assume she is just another faceless charity case; abandoned, elderly and unable to even tell them her name. But Therese Marie’s dementia is not all that it seems and when her prodigal son Danny returns to New York, Therese Marie must fight to maintain her dignity as he imposes upon her the ugly secrets of their past. In this inter-generational ghost story, we observe a searing portrait of a mother and son who must face a long family legacy of abuse in order to find the true meaning of grace. The Little Flower of East Orange is part of the recently announced Elephant Theatre Company/LAByrinth Theater Company partnership.

Opening night is set for Friday, November 12 at 8:00. Seats are available to the public for that performance at $40, which includes a reception with the cast following the show. The regular running schedule is Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 7pm through December 19 only. All tickets for regular performances are $25 and $30. To purchase tickets, call (877) 369-9112 or reserve online: www.elephanttheatrecompany.com. Also, visit the Elephant on Facebook and follow us on twitter @ElephantTheatre.

The Lillian Theatre is located at 1076 N. Lillian Way (one block west of Vine, just off Santa Monica Boulevard), in Hollywood. Street parking is available.

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11-06-10