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PRESS RELEASE — BLANK THEATRE YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL KICK-OFF EVENT MAY 16

THE BLANK THEATRE HOSTS LAUNCH PARTY
FOR ITS 22ND ANNUAL
YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL

FRIDAY, MAY 16 AT 8PM

The Blank Theatre - Young Playwrights Festival LogoThe Blank Theatre has announced a special event, free and open to the public, on Friday, May 16 at 8pm celebrating the 22nd anniversary of its Nationwide Young Playwrights Festival, which this year will run June 5—29 at the Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood.

The launch activities will take place at Los Angeles Film School (Main Theatre), 6353 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. This will be an opportunity to meet and chat with YPF alums and this year’s local winners along with participating actors, directors, mentors, and producers of the upcoming Festival. Members of The Blank Theatre artistic staff will also be in attendance, and the evening will feature the debut of a mini-documentary about the Young Playwrights Festival and its history. Admission is free, but reservations are required at www.TheBlank.com.

Over the past 21 years, The Blank has produced more than 240 plays by young playwrights including 11 that have gone on to be presented on The Blank’s mainstage. Many of the plays have been nominated for LA theatre honors, including Ovation and LA Weekly Awards. Many YPF winners have gone on to successful writing careers creating TV shows, filling regional stages, teaching writing to others, and founding regional Young Playwrights Festivals.

This year’s winning plays are: NINE HOURS by Zoe Kamil, San Francisco, CA, Age 18; WHAT WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PLANNED PARENTHOOD by Alexa Derman, Westfield, NJ, Age 17; ROCK CANDY by Gabrielle Greenfield, Dallas, TX, Age 19; BAROPHOBIA by Aiyana White, Encino, CA, Age 18; THE SON ALSO RISES by Patric Verrone, Pacific Palisades, CA, Age 18; PAM by Agnes Nguyen, Anaheim, CA, Age 19; PILLOW TALK by Zoe Cheng, Cincinnati, OH, Age 17; INNOCENCE by Matt Ubl, Jacksonville, FL, Age 18; THE RUB by Max Friedlich, New York, NY, Age 19; FAIREST by Frank Garland, Seattle, WA, Age 16; THE NOT LESBIANS by Travis Amiel, Millwood, NY, Age 18; and BLACK SHEEP by Robert Gold, Valley Village, CA, Age 17.

This year’s festival is made possible by The Rosenthal Family Foundation, The Plum Foundation, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, and the office of City Councilman 4th District Tom LaBonge.

The Blank Theatre’s 22nd Annual Young Playwrights Festival runs June 5 — 29 at the Stella Adler Theatre, 6773 Hollywood Boulevard, in Hollywood. The performance schedule is Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm. Each week’s program includes three plays, and admission is $20 for adults and $14 for students. Festival passes, which are good for one ticket each week of the festival, are $68 for adults and $48 for students. Tickets may be purchased in advance online at www.TheBlank.com, or via phone by calling (323) 661-9827.

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05-09-14

PRESS RELEASE — WORLD PREMIERE PLAY “LAND LINE” OPENS JUNE 14 — EST/LA AT ATWATER VILLAGE THEATRE SPEAKEASY

Ensemble Studio Theatre/LA
Presents the World Premiere of
LAND LINE
Written by Stephen Dierkes
Directed by William Charlton

OPENS JUNE 14 AT 8PM
AT THE SPEAKEASY
ATWATER VILLAGE THEATRE

LandLine graphicEnsemble Studio Theatre/LA has announced the world premiere of Land Line, a new play by Stephen Dierkes, directed by William Charlton, and featuring Katherine Cortez, John Dennis Johnston, Gary Patent, and Peter James Smith. Land Line is set to open Saturday, June 14 at 8pm and the limited engagement will run through July 21.

When a health crisis forces Terry to move back into his parents’ basement, his best friend John supports him with laughter, sympathy, bravado, and finally, honesty.

Playwright Stephen Dierkes is an associate member of Ensemble Studio Theatre/Los Angeles, a member of the EST/LA Playwrights Unit, and a member of the Dramatists Guild. He has had productions and readings in Manhattan, Brooklyn, St. Louis, Spokane, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Reno, Ohio, and Los Angeles. His play Ape and Apple was a semi-finalist for the National Arts Club’s Playwrights First Award, and his 10-Minute Antigone won the Audience Favorite Award at Colby-Sawyer College’s SNAFU Festival (New London, NH). His farce Crabs: A Love Story was the St. Louis Playwrights Festival’s inaugural production, and his twin one-acts, Apocrypha and Heterodoxy, were given readings in two EST/LA Winterfest events.

Director William Charlton is an actor and director who has acted on stage in NYC, LA, and at various theatres across the country. He has directed at EST/LA and Playwright’s Horizons in NYC, and he is a member of EST/LA. Television: recurring on The Shield and Law & Order; guest appearances include Parks & Recreation, Criminal Minds, Monday Mornings, Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, House, Numb3rs, Medium, and My Name is Earl, among many others. Film: The Rum Diary, The Changeling, Flags of Our Fathers, Money Train, Get Smart. Training: London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), Director’s Lab West 2010.

Set and lighting design for Land Line are by William Sammons, costume design is by Catherine Baumgardner, sound design is by Joseph ‘Sloe’ Slawinski, and the stage manager is Marissa Drammissi. Producer for EST/LA is Mina Sharpe.

The opening of Land Line is set for Saturday, June 14 at 8pm. The running schedule will then be Saturday at 5pm, Sunday at 7pm, and Monday at 8pm through July 21, with the following exceptions — no performance on Friday, July 4; curtain time on Saturday, July 5 is 8pm; and there will be added matinees on Sundays, July 13 and 20 at 2pm. Tickets are $25, and all seats are general admission. Tickets may be purchased online at www.EnsembleStudioTheatreLA.org or http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/680900 or by calling (323) 644-1929. The EST/LA Speakeasy at Atwater Village Theatre is located at 3269 Casitas Avenue, in Los Angeles.

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05-08-14

Press Release — All Star Cast Will Perform ‘The Vagina Monologues’ May 16-17-18 to Benefit V-Day & Protect.org

All-Star Cast Will Perform
The Vagina Monologues
to Benefit V-Day and Protect.org

Popular LATalkRadio Host Sheena Metal
Directs the Eve Ensler Play
at the Atwater Village Theatre Speakeasy

3 Performances Only, May 16-17-18

VDay LOGO 2014More than 50 film and television stars will perform Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues in an intimate theatrical setting for three performances only, May 16, 17, and 18 at 8pm, at the Atwater Village Theatre in Los Angeles. Produced and directed by Sheena Metal for Ensemble Studio Theatre Los Angeles, all proceeds will benefit V-Day, A Global Movement to End Violence Against Women and Girls, and Protect.org, a national pro-child, anti-crime association committed to building a powerful, nonpartisan force for the protection of children from abuse, exploitation and neglect.

“It is exciting to work with so many great actresses, all of whom are graciously donating their time and talents,” said Metal, whose popular LATalkRadio show, The Sheena Metal Experience (M-F, 5-7pm) is only one of four programs she hosts on LATR each week. “I salute every artist, onstage and off, that is contributing to this special presentation of The Vagina Monologues.”

Among the long list of luminous actresses who will perform in the three benefit performances are (in alphabetical order) Alison Arngrim, Yvette Cason, Daisy Eagan, Ilene Graff, Sally Kirkland, Ann Noble, Jenny O’Hara, Susan Olsen, Lizzie Peet, Suzanne Westenhoefer, and Kim Yarbrough. A complete cast list is available at www.vdayla.com.

To date, the V-Day movement, founded by playwright/actress Eve Ensler, has raised over $75 million and educated millions about the issue of violence against women and the efforts to end it. In 2006, the V-Day movement was named one of Marie Claire Magazine’s Top Ten Charities, and in 2010, over 5400 V-Day benefit events took place produced by volunteer activists in the U.S. and around the world, educating millions of people about the reality of violence against women and girls. In 12 years, the V-Day movement has reached over 300 million people.

These special performances of The Vagina Monologues are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday May 16, 17, and 18, at 8pm. Tickets are $25, and may be purchased online at www.vdayla.com. The Atwater Village Theatre Speakeasy is located at 3269 Casitas Avenue, in Los Angeles.

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05-07-14

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