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Announcing: Elephant Theatre Company Announces 2013 Season

ELEPHANT THEATRE COMPANY
ANNOUNCES 2013 SEASON

CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED, AWARD-WINNING COMPANY
SET TO PRESENT LOS ANGELES PREMIERE OF
“THE NORTH PLAN” BY JASON WELLS,
WORLD PREMIERE OF “REVELATION”
BY SAMUEL BRETT WILLIAMS,
AND TWO PLAYS IN REPERTORY BY TIMOTHY McNEIL:
A NEW PRODUCTION OF “ANYTHING” AND THE WORLD PREMIERE OF “THE TWILIGHT OF SCHLOMO”

The much lauded Elephant Theatre Company, David Fofi and Lindsay Allbaugh, Co-Artistic Directors, has announced its 16th season, which will kick off on April 26 with the Los Angeles premiere of The North Plan by Jason Wells, followed by the world premiere of Revelation by Samuel Brett Williams, and concluding with two plays in repertory by Timothy McNeil, a new production of Anything and the world premiere of The Twilight of Schlomo.

In The North Plan, a ruthless splinter group seizes power in Washington, and a state bureaucrat steals the new regime’s top secret Enemies List. He then ends up in a small Ozark police station with a diverse group of colorful locals. The North Plan is a sharp, dark, dystopian comedy set in the here and now. Directed by David Fofi, this Los Angeles premiere opens April 26 and runs through June 2 at the Elephant Space. Playwright Jason Wells is a winner of the ATCA M. Elizabeth Osborn Award, and has been a finalist for the American Theatre Critics Association Steinberg/New Play Award. His other plays include Men of Tortuga and Perfect Mendacity. The North Plan debuted at Steppenwolf’s First Look in Chicago in 2010, and had its official world premiere at Portland Center Stage in Oregon.

Up next is the world premiere of Revelation by Samuel Brett Williams. Revelation tells the tale of Brandon, whose family always taught him to be prepared for the Rapture. When people begin disappearing and the Hudson River turns to blood, Brandon and his friend Rebecca head from New York to Arkadelphia, Arkansas, in hope of finding the New Jerusalem. The play explores faith, love, and the American landscape in this pitch black comedy about the End of Days. Directed by Lindsay Allbaugh, Revelation opens July 19 and runs through August 25 at the Lillian Theatre. Samuel Brett Williams is a winner of the Helen Merrill Emerging Playwright Award. His other plays include The Revival, The Woodpecker, and Derby Day. Williams’ plays have been developed and/or produced in such prestigious venues as the Eugene O’Neill Playwrights Conference, New York Theatre Workshop, Naked Angels, The Kennedy Center, Yale University, Actors Theatre of Louisville, and more.

Closing out the 2013 season will be two plays in repertory by Timothy McNeil. A new production of Anything and the world premiere of The Twilight of Schlomo feature residents living in the same apartment building in Hollywood. In Anything, Early is a widower from Mississippi, and Frieda is the abused, transgendered, prostitute-thief-junkie next door. Their unlikely friendship is a tale of second chances, salvation, and a gentle reminder that love exists in infinite varieties. A not-so-classic love story about two truly unique human beings, Anything had its world premiere at the Elephant in 2008, receiving four Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award nominations, winning three, including Best Play. It was also nominated by GLAAD as best production of the year. In The Twilight of Schlomo, former stand-up comic Richard faces a deep mid-life crisis, wrestling with his own personal truths as his troubled past catches up with him. The play explores how our simplest choices sometimes have far-reaching effects for those around us, and how redemption might never be too far away. With these two productions, the Elephant continues its longstanding relationship with Timothy McNeil, a company member who has written over 20 plays. In addition to Anything, the company also produced his plays Supernova and Los Muertos, and other productions of his plays in Los Angeles include Margaret, Crane, Mississippi, and most recently, the acclaimed Machu Picchu, Texas. Anything and The Twilight of Schlomo will run in rep from November 1 through December 15 at the Lillian Theatre.

Tickets for the Elephant Theatre Company’s 2013 Season are currently available by subscription only, and may be purchased online at www.ElephantTheatre.org, or via phone at (855) NO-FORGET [663-6743]. The Elephant Space is located at 6322 Santa Monica Boulevard and the Lillian Theatre is located at 1076 Lillian Way (off Santa Monica Boulevard, just west of Vine), both in Hollywood.

The Elephant Theatre Company now returns from their 2012 producing hiatus, during which time they successfully addressed many of their goals to secure the company’s stability and ensure longevity. New to the organization are Producing Director Greg Borrud, and Managing Director Rick Bernstein. Two fundraising events were held; Poker Royale (which will now be held annually), and the annual Season Launch Gala, which set a new record by netting $16,000 for Elephant operating expenses. Artistically, two new programs were started. The Trunk Show is a monthly storytelling event that brings together Elephant company members with non-members, to share stories on a common theme. Elephants in the Room is a year-long playwriting workshop, which culminates with new, finished works.

For more information on the Elephant Theatre Company, visit www.ElephantTheatre.org. Visit the Elephant on Facebook, and follow us on twitter @elephanttheatre.

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02-26-13

Announcing: World Premiere of “Alabama Baggage” Opens March 9 at Theatre Asylum in Hollywood

WORLD PREMIERE DRAMA
ALABAMA BAGGAGE BY BUDDY FARMER
DIRECTED BY PAUL MESSINGER
SET FOR SIX-WEEK RUN AT THEATRE ASYLUM
OPENS SATURDAY, MARCH 9

LuluBelle Productions is set to present the world premiere of Alabama Baggage, a new drama written by Buddy Farmer, and directed by Paul Messinger, at Theatre Asylum in Hollywood. There will be one preview on Friday, March 8, and opening is Saturday, March 9 at 8pm, and Alabama Baggage will play a six-week engagement through April 14 only.

In a small town, in the wee hours of the night, a chance encounter between two strangers in a graveyard will forever change their lives. When buried secrets are unearthed, shattering revelations have them questioning what they each thought they knew to be true. Alabama Baggage draws a fine line between life and death, as it examines mercy, forgiveness, revenge and redemption.

Playwright Buddy Farmer made his living as an actor in theatre, film, and television for over 20 years, and began writing and directing plays in 2003. His first play, Coaches: Off the Bench with Knute, Vince, and The Bear received critical acclaim in Los Angeles and on its subsequent tour. Farmer later adapted the Knute section of that play into a TV mini-series; that adaptation became the basis for the book he wrote for the new musical Knute Rockne, All American, which opened last year just outside of Chicago, garnering rave reviews and several Jeff Award nominations. His next project is a musical adaptation of his one-act play The Viagra Monologues.

Paul Messinger has worked as a director in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and various places in between. He has worked on children’s shows (The Christmas Princess), high dramas (Gentle Passage), and comedies (Ledge), among others. He also has an active career as an actor in episodics and commercials. Messinger serves as the director’s unit head for Fierce Backbone.

The cast of Alabama Baggage will feature (in alphabetical order) Will Blagrove, John Combs, Jody Fasanella, William Jones, and Ashley McGee. The set design is by Bill Cole, lighting design is by Leigh Allen, and costume design is by Shannon Kennedy. The stage manager is Ashley Koenig. Alabama Baggage is presented by LuluBelle Productions, and produced by Theatre Planners.

There will be one preview performance on Friday, March 8 at 8pm, and opening is set for Saturday, March 9 at 8pm. Admission is $15 for the preview, and $25 for all regular performances. The running schedule is Friday and Saturday at 8pm, and Sunday at 3pm through April 14 only. Tickets are on sale now, and may be purchased online at www.plays411.com/baggage, or by calling (323) 960-7711.

Theatre Asylum is located at 6320 Santa Monica Boulevard, in Hollywood. Street parking is available.

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02-20-13

Announcing: Brimmer Street Theatre Company’s 2013 Fundraiser, High Rollers’ Masquerade Ball, Set for March 16

BRIMMER STREET THEATRE COMPANY’S
2013 FUNDRAISER
HIGH ROLLERS’ MASQUERADE BALL
SET FOR SATURDAY, MARCH 16 AT 8PM

Brimmer Street Theatre Company has announced its 2013 Fundraiser, High Rollers’ Masquerade Ball, on Saturday, March 16, from 8pm to 1am. The evening’s main event will be a Poker Tournament brought to you by Dealer Dolls; guests will also enjoy an open bar and complimentary hors d’oeuvres, music, and other entertainment. Additionally, there will be games and a raffle, offering many opportunities to win valuable prizes.

The Poker Tournament begins at 9pm, and the grand prize is a Big Apple Vacation Package, which includes two round-trip tickets on Jet Blue to New York City, a two-night stay at the Paramount Hotel in Times Square, tickets to a Roundabout Theatre Company production, dinner at any Patina Restaurant in NYC, and a weekend subway pass. The top raffle prize is a San Francisco Getaway, which includes two round-trip tickets on American Airlines, a two-night stay in a bay view room at the boutique Hotel Griffon, and dinner at CHAYA San Francisco.

General admission tickets are $40, and buy-in for the Poker Tournament is an additional $35. Both are available now, online at www.BrimmerStreet.org. Advance poker buy-in is recommended. High Rollers’ Masquerade Ball will take place at 624 Hilgard Avenue in Los Angeles, 90024. Cocktail attire is required, masks encouraged.

Brimmer Street Theatre Company is a non-profit Los Angeles-based performance company with a commitment to develop original theatre and welcome artists whose work challenges established forms and expectations. BSTC strives to form a close ensemble with these artists, craftsmen, students, and benefactors to produce work of exceptional innovation and character. For more info, visit www.BrimmerStreet.org.

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02-15-13