Announcing: Jane Kaczmarek and Herbert Siguenza Set To Host 2012 LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards

JANE KACZMAREK AND HERBERT SIGUENZA
SET TO HOST LA STAGE ALLIANCE
2012 OVATION AWARDS CEREMONY
AT HISTORIC LOS ANGELES THEATRE IN DOWNTOWN LA
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, AT 7:30PM

Television and stage star Jane Kaczmarek and Culture Clash co-founder/actor/writer Herbert Siguenza will host the 2012 LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Awards Ceremony on Monday, November 12, at the historic Los Angeles Theatre in downtown LA. The curtain will rise at 7:30pm.

Jane Kaczmarek is well known for her work on stage, and on television. She starred for seven seasons on Fox TV’s Malcolm in the Middle, earning seven consecutive Emmy Award nominations along the way. Other television work includes Raising the Bar, The Middle, Whitney, Wilfred, Felicity, Equal Justice, Paper Chase: The Second Year, Party of Five, Frasier, The Practice, St. Elsewhere, and Hill Street Blues. On stage, Kaczmarek most recently starred in David Lindsay-Abaire’s Good People at The Geffen Playhouse, for which she is an Ovation Award nominee this year. She starred in Dinner With Friends and Raised in Captivity at South Coast Rep, and won an Ovation Award for her performance in Kindertransport at the Tiffany Theater in West Hollywood. Kaczmarek has appeared on Broadway, as well as in plays at the Manhattan Theatre Club, The Public Theater, Second Stage, Long Wharf, and the Berkshire and Williamstown Theatre Festivals, among others.

Herbert Siguenza is a founding member of Culture Clash, the most produced Latino Theatre Company in the United States. Founded in San Francisco in 1984 by Richard Montoya, Ric Salinas, and Siguenza, Culture Clash has stormed the stages of America’s top regional theatres, including, the Mark Taper Forum, The Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, Alley Theatre, Berkeley Rep, Yale Rep, and Syracuse Stage, along with countless colleges and universities. Siguenza has co-written and/or performed in American Night, Palestine New Mexico, Peace, Water and Power, Chavez Ravine, Zorro in Hell!, Radio Mambo, A Bowl of Beings, The Mission, and others.

This year’s presenters will include many local performers, city officials, union reps, artistic and executive directors, stage managers and publicists. Scheduled to participate (in alphabetical order) are Patrick J. Adams, LJ Benet, Seamus Dever, Elizabeth Doran, Kristy Edmunds, Robert Foxworth, Davis Gaines, Glenne Headly, Nikki Hyde, Leslie Ito, Young Ji, Christine Lakin, Dawnn Lewis, Sarah Lyding, Lesli Margherita, Gates McFadden, Laura Penn, Assembly Speaker John Perez, Bill Rauch, Allison Rawlings, Mark Roberts, Kirsten Vangsness, Ken Werther, and Charlayne Woodard.

Producers Kappy Kilburn and Malcolm Darrell will lead this year’s production team, with technical direction by Joe Hamlin. The production design is by Rachel Myers, lighting design is by Jared Sayeg, and sound design is by Cricket S. Myers. Musical direction will once again be by the Ovation Award-winning David O, and the voices of the Ovations are Bernadette Sullivan and Robert Yacko. Adeena Bell serves as production stage manager, and the Ovation statues will be presented by students from the MFA and BFA graduating programs at Cal State University, Long Beach.

Voters are Los Angeles theatre professionals who are chosen each season, through an application process, by the Ovation Awards Review Committee. The list of nominees is determined by a tabulation of scores conducted by the entertainment accounting firm Green Hasson Janks. This year’s Ovation Award eligibility period ran from September 1, 2011 through August 28, 2012.

LA STAGE Alliance programs are sponsored, in part, by Actors Equity, The Angell Foundation, Arts Council for Long Beach, The Biller Family Foundation, California ArtsCouncil, California Community Foundation, City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs,City of Pasadena Cultural Affairs Division, City of Santa Monica Cultural Affairs Division, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, ELS, Goldstar, James Irvine Foundation, Andrew Mellon Foundation, Los Angeles County Supervisors through the LA County Arts Commission, MusiCares/Grammy Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, Sky Events & Productions, and Sony Pictures Entertainment.

The 2012 Ovation Awards ceremony will take place on Monday, November 12, at the historic Los Angeles Theatre, 615 South Broadway, in downtown Los Angeles. The curtain goes up at 7:30pm. For information, to become a volunteer or a sponsor, and to purchase tickets, visit www.LASTAGEOvations.com.

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10-31-12

Announcing: Third and Final Week and Student Matinees Added for “A Snow White Christmas” at The Pasadena Playhouse

EXTRA HOLIDAY PERFORMANCE WEEK ADDED FOR
THE PASADENA PLAYHOUSE AND
LYTHGOE FAMILY PRODUCTIONS’
A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS

THREE STUDENT MATINEES ALSO ADDED FOR
PUBLIC SCHOOLCHILDREN AND YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS

LIMITED ENGAGEMENT WILL NOW PLAY
DECEMBER 12 – 30, 2012

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Elizabeth Doran, Executive Director) and Lythgoe Family Productions, announced today that, due to popular demand, an extra week of holiday performances of A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS has been added for this limited engagement.  Performances will begin December 13 and continue through December 30, with a gala press opening night on Wednesday, December 12, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. at The Pasadena Playhouse.  Three student matinees have also been added on December 13, 14 and 20.

The production stars Ariana Grande (Nickelodeon’s “Victorious”) as “Snow White,” an on-screen appearance by Neil Patrick Harris as “The Magic Mirror” and Charlene Tilton (“Dallas”) as “The Wicked Queen.”  This inaugural “Panto at The Playhouse” production of A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS will be directed by Bonnie Lythgoe (“So You Think You Can Dance”) with choreography by Spencer Liff (Emmy nominee, “So You Think You Can Dance”) and musical direction, additional music and arrangements by Michael Orland (“American Idol”).

Three student matinees have been also added on December 13, 14 and 20 at 12:00 p.m.  These performances will host underprivileged schoolchildren and youth organizations from the Pasadena and Greater Los Angeles areas.  The student matinees are provided at no cost to the students and bus transportation is fully sponsored by Ovation, who is also premiering the making of The Lythgoe Family’s A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS – “A Snow White Christmas: Opening Night” – on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific/8:00 p.m. Eastern.  Check local listings for details.  Proceeds from opening night gala patron sales will fund this student matinee program.  For information on supporting the student matinees as a patron, contact Kim Ruppert at kruppert@pasadenaplayhouse.org.

Lythgoe Family Productions produces fun, musical theatre the whole family can enjoy. Known for their creativity and involvement in television hits “American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance,” the Lythgoes are dedicated to bringing affordable theatre to families across America. Based on the Grimm fairytales, each story has been modernized with topical scripts for parents and well known pop songs for kids. The Lythgoes pride themselves on creating a memorable experience the whole family can share.

An updated version of the classic tale, in the style of a traditional British family Panto, A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS features family-friendly magic, with a comedic twist, dancing (with “So You Think You Can Dance” alumni), a live miniature pony and contemporary music from Katy Perry’s “Firework” to Huey Lewis and the News’ “Power of Love” to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and more. A Panto is known for its interactive style and humor that appeals to everyone from ages 2 – 102!  Before every performance, guests and their families are invited to enjoy a “Winter Wonderland” event in The Playhouse’s Engemann Family Courtyard, complete with holiday music, crafts, activities, games and photo opportunities.

In addition to director Bonnie Lythgoe, the creative team for A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS includes choreography by Spencer Liff (Emmy nominee for “So You Think You Can Dance”), musical direction, additional music and arrangements by Michael Orland (“American Idol”), book by Kris Lythgoe, scenic and costume design by Lythgoe Family Productions creative department with additional costume design by designer Julia Clancy, Donna Maas and Kleev Guessford, additional scenic design by J.J. Wickham  (LFP producers include Kris Lythgoe, Bonnie Lythgoe, Becky Baeling and Jason Haigh-Ellery).

A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS will play from December 13 – 30, 2012 with a gala press opening on Wednesday, December 12, 2012, at 7:00 p.m.  The Pasadena Playhouse is located at 39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101.  The performance schedule is Tuesday through Friday at 7:00 p.m.; Saturdays at 11:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.; and Sundays at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.  There are no performances on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 18 and 19 as well as Christmas Day.  A special Christmas Eve performance will take place on December 24 at 7:00 p.m.  Single ticket prices for A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS range from $32.00 – $72.00, with Premium Seating available for $100.00.  Child single tickets are available for Rear Orchestra and Rear Mezzanine seating ranging from $22.00 – $47.00.  Family ticket packages are available at $99.00 (weekday performances, Rear Orchestra), $159.00 (weekday, Front Orchestra/Front Mezzanine; weekend performances, Rear Orchestra) and $199.00 (weekend and Christmas Eve, Front Orchestra/Front Mezzanine).  Golden Tickets are available as an add-on to any child’s ticket for an additional $100.00 each and are limited to 10 Golden Tickets per performance.  A Golden Ticket allows the ticketholder (children only) a special on-stage experience during the production.  Admission to the “Winter Wonderland” event is complimentary to all ticket holders (select activities require an additional purchase) and begins 90 minutes before every performance.  Service and theatre restoration fees apply to all purchases.  Tickets are available by calling The Pasadena Playhouse at 626-356-7529 or by visiting The Pasadena Playhouse Box Office, Tuesday – Sunday from 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. during non-performance dates.  On performance dates the Box Office is open Tuesday – Saturday from 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Sunday.  Tickets are available 24 hours online at www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.  Group Sales (8 or more) are available by calling 626-921-1161. For additional information visit www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.

Full bios for the cast and creative team of A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS are available upon request.

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10-29-2012

Announcing: Mack & Poppy’s “It’s Christmas (F#*k the Mayans!)” for Two Shows Only, Saturday 12/22

MACK & POPPY RETURN
TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS

IT’S CHRISTMAS! (F#*K THE MAYANS!)
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22 AT 8PM & 10PM

CAVERN CLUB CELEBRITY THEATRE INSIDE CASITA DEL CAMPO

Mack & Poppy will return to Los Angeles to celebrate the holidays with It’s Christmas! (F#*k The Mayans!), for two shows only on Saturday, December 22 at 8pm and 10pm, at the Cavern Club Celebrity Theatre inside Casita Del Campo Restaurant in Silver Lake. Assuming the world doesn’t end the day before, Mack and Poppy, accompanied by Jack Cheddar at the piano, will bring their one-of-a-kind Christmas show to LA audiences. Featuring favorite tunes from last year’s show as well as new material, Mack and Poppy will once again give holiday revelers an irreverent evening of song and laughter that’s sure to be talked about … at least until New Year’s Eve.

Crooner Mack Diamond (Tod Macofsky) began his career as a child star, singing on street corners with his two older brothers, Shlomo and Moishe. Later, Mack suffered a decade of depression and alcoholism in Las Vegas, where he spent eight years performing his solo show, A Yiddishe Mackie, at The Imperial Palace. He met the lovely Poppy Fields while she was in the chorus of Jubilee!, and the rest is showbiz history.

Southern Belle Poppy Fields (Christopher Michael Graham) escaped the narrow-minded confines of Possum Trot, Alabama, and traveled the world as a singer/dancer/actress, entertaining celebrities, businessmen, and heads-of-state. After a successful beauty pageant career, the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas called, where Poppy wed and divorced four husbands before finally meeting and marrying the “Sensation of the 24-hour Buffet,” entertainer Mack Diamond.

Mack & Poppy will play two performances only at the Cavern Club Celebrity Theatre inside Casita Del Campo Restaurant on Saturday, December 22, at 8pm and 10pm. For tickets ($15 in advance, $20 at the door), go to www.brownpapertickets.com/event/290591 or call (800) 838-3006. For more information, visit www.mackandpoppy.com. Casita Del Campo is located at 1920 Hyperion Avenue in Los Angeles, 90026.

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10-29-12