PRESS RELEASE: “THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST” WINS HOLLYWOOD FRINGE PRODUCER’S ENCORE AWARD — 3 PERFS ADDED

2014 HOLLYWOOD FRINGE FESTIVAL
PRODUCER’S ENCORE AWARD!

QUEER CLASSICS PRESENTS
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
BY OSCAR WILDE
DIRECTED BY CASEY KRINGLEN

THREE PERFORMANCES ONLY
JULY 12, 13 &14
LET LIVE THEATRE AT THE ACTORS COMPANY

Queer Classics re-imagines one of the most popular comedic plays ever written — Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, by presenting the four lovers in the story as dashing gay men. Winner of a 2014 Hollywood Fringe Festival Producer’s Encore Award, Earnest will play three additional performances only on Saturday, July 12 at 9pm; Sunday, July 13 at 7pm; and Monday, July 14 at 8pm.

Two couples fight for the right to be engaged in this masterful satire written by Oscar Wilde, arrested in 1895 for “gross indecency with men.” This timeless story galavants through a world obsessed with appearances, money and social-status. By presenting the four lovers as gay men, the parallels with today’s Hollywood and American culture make for searing fun. Running time is 90 minutes.

“Each of these talented actors mined new meaning into the script, creating more laughter throughout the play than I have ever experienced before,” raves Shari Barrett at BroadwayWorld.com. Rob Stevens of HainesHisWay.com calls the production “… delirious fun,” and Toby Jacobs at NeonTommy.com says, “… everyone seems to have a real blast onstage, and it shows in their performances. It is hard to recall a version of Earnest that was quite this much fun.”

Directed by Casey Kringlen, the cast features (in alphabetical order) Eric DeLoretta, Jeff Elam, Grant Jordan, Nancy La Scala, Mason McCulley, Philip Orazio, Boone Platt, and Megan Soule. Lighting design is by Dan Weingarten and stage manager is Caitlin Leong.

Queer Classics is dedicated to sharing classic stories re-imagined through a queer lens — art for the LGBTQ community and its supporters. This production of Earnest was part of the City of West Hollywood’s One City One Pride LGBTQ Arts Festival, which this year celebrated marriage equality. For more, visit www.weho.org/pride.

Seats for the Producer’s Encore Award performances of The Importance of Being Earnest are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Tickets may be obtained online at www.hollywoodfringe.org or by phone at (323) 455-4585.

The Let Live Theatre at the Actors Company is located at 916 N. Formosa Avenue in Los Angeles, 90036. Street and lot parking are available.

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06-30-14

Photo 1: L to R — Mason McCulley, Boone Platt.

Photo 2: Front to back — Mason McCulley, Casey Kringlen, Philip Orazio, Boone Platt.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF QUEER CLASSICS.