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PRESS RELEASE — BLANK THEATRE OPENS 24TH SEASON WITH “THE WHY” ON SATURDAY 9/20 AT 8PM

THE BLANK THEATRE
PRESENTS
THE WHY
BY VICTOR KAUFOLD
DIRECTED BY DANIEL HENNING

24TH SEASON BEGINS ON SEPTEMBER 16
AT THE BLANK’S 2nd STAGE THEATRE
OPENING SET FOR SATURDAY 9/20 AT 8PM

The Why - Blast BannerThe Blank Theatre (Daniel Henning, Founding Artistic Director; Noah Wyle, Artistic Producer) has announced that the first production of its 24th season will be The Why by Victor Kaufold, directed by Henning. Previews begin September 16 and opening is set for Saturday, September 20 at 8pm. The engagement will run through October 19.

The Why is a fast-paced tragicomedy — one part modern satire, one part honest investigation. The central story concerns Robert, an American teenager guilty of murdering three of his classmates in a school shooting. Spliced among the dramatic exchanges between Robert and his assigned social worker, a parade of fantastical stereotypes storms in and out, creating a dichotomy between moments of hilarity and sorrow. Confronted by disturbingly accurate exaggerations of the tabloid-like modern media, the audience is made to laugh and then question that laughter.

The cast will feature (in alphabetical order) Ben Crowley, Nicholas Cutro, Jen Landon, and Jeff Witzke. The design team includes Martha Carter (lighting), Sarah Kalb (costumes), and Rebecca Kessin (sound). The stage manager is Samantha Else. Sarah Allyn Bauer serves as producer.

Said Blank Artistic Producer Noah Wyle, “The Why is a truly original take on a very serious and very complex subject: what is happening to the youth of America? Why are kids killing each other? Who or what is to blame? Through blended styles, mixed media, and a constant shifting between drama, farce, satire, and melodrama, The Why seems to offer an answer. Or at least it manages to debunk several popular theories being touted by ‘experts’ in the media. Its continued relevance is frightening.”

Playwright Victor Kaufold was just 19 years old when he wrote The Why, which was a Blank Theatre Young Playwrights Festival winner. Later produced on The Blank’s mainstage, Kaufold received an LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Award nomination for World Premiere Play, the youngest person ever to do so.

Preview performances of The Why begin on Tuesday, September 16 at 8pm, and continue Wednesday, September 17 through Friday, September 19 at 8pm. Opening is set for Saturday, September 20 at 8pm. The regular performance schedule will be Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm through October 19. Admission prices are $25—$30 (student price is $20; must show valid ID), and tickets may be purchased online at www.TheBlank.com or via phone at (323) 661-9827.

The Blank’s 2nd Stage Theatre is located at 6500 Santa Monica Boulevard (at Wilcox), in Hollywood.

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08-13-14

PRESS RELEASE — “O BABY MINE: SING A SONG OF SHAKESPEARE” CD AND DIGITAL DOWNLOADS NOW AVAILABLE

“Play, music! And you, brides and bridegrooms all,
With measure heap’d in joy, to the measures fall.”
As You Like It, Act V, Scene 4

134 WEST ANNOUNCES
O BABY MINE: SING A SONG OF SHAKESPEARE
AN ALBUM OF MUSIC
FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN OF ALL AGES

SONGS FROM AND INSPIRED BY
SHAKESPEARE’S PLAYS

CD AND DIGITAL DOWNLOADS
RELEASE TUESDAY, AUGUST 12

O Baby Mine CD Art134 West has announced O Baby Mine: Sing A Song of Shakespeare, an album of music for parents and children of all ages. Comprised of songs from and inspired by Shakespeare’s plays, the CD and digital downloads release on Tuesday, August 12.

O Baby Mine: Sing A Song of Shakespeare is for anyone that wants to share their love of theatre, music, and the Bard and his language with their families. Featuring eight songwriters and 14 tracks, Shakespeare plays represented include Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Romeo and Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing, The Comedy of Errors, As You Like It, Macbeth, and King Lear.

The composers are (in alphabetical order) Raymond Bokhour, Sean Galuszka, Rob Kendt, Susan Lambert, Cinco Paul, Madison Scheckel, William Shakespeare, and David Tobocman. The project was conceived by Susan Lambert, who also acts as executive producer. The CD is produced, mixed, and engineered by Rob Kendt, with additional mixing by Matt North, mastering by Reuben Cohen at Lurssen Mastering, and art direction and design by Chad Calvert/Muse of Fire Creative.

Said producers Lambert and Kendt, “This album began as a way to introduce the wonder of Shakespeare to our kids, but it quickly took on a life of its own. Music flows throughout Shakespeare’s work: the rhythm and melody of his language can really make you want to sing and dance … and listen.”

The track listing follows —

OBABYMINE_backcover_72Up and Down
Shakespeare Said It First
There Are Bees
O Baby Mine (Daddy version)
Witches’ Song
Who Is Sylvia?
Nightingale’s Lullaby
Sigh No More
Do You Think You Have A Twin?
Oh Father
In Springtime
O Baby Mine (Mommy version)
Out, Out, Brief Candle
We Two Alone

 

134 West, LLC is a producing and consulting company specializing in entertainment marketing and theatrical development, as well as social media and digital production across all channels from theatre to music to web to mobile.

For O Baby Mine: Sing A Song of Shakespeare CD availability ($14.99) and download options ($10.99) including iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, GooglePlay, and xbox music among others, visit www.obabyminemusic.com. For further information, visit www.134west.biz.

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08-12-14

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IMAGES AND PHOTOS AVAILABLE HERE:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/vngnj5w89lu1d7j/AACQlyiE6s234ICZQv8NO-xQa

PRESS RELEASE — ANIL KUMAR’S “RISE AND SHINE [I THOUGHT I WAS WHITE]” OPENS SATURDAY 9/13 AT LET LIVE THEATRE