Cheers to 23! (LAArtsOnline.com)

^{23rd Annual Young Playwrights Festival at The Blank Theatre. Photo Courtesy of The Blank Theatre}

Cheers to 23!

By Ken Werther

Now celebrating its 23rd Anniversary, The Blank Theatre’s Young Playwrights Festival will present 12 plays by young playwrights aged 12—19 from seven different states at the Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood June 4—28. This is a truly remarkable event that throughout its history has produced 260 plays by young playwrights.

Noah Wyle, Artistic Producer at The Blank, says, “The Blank finds the freshest, most original voices in the American theatre, invites them to Los Angeles, and promotes their work during our month-long festival. These thought-provoking works, performed and directed by seasoned professionals, have entertained thousands of audience members over the years. While these authors are often as different as the states from which they come and the subjects with which they deal, they share something truly improbable. They’re teenagers.” Wyle continued, “They are the voices of today’s theatre — and of tomorrow’s as well.”

Many of the plays presented in the Festival have been nominated for multiple LA theatre awards and several alumni playwrights are populating the nation’s theatres and sound stages with their work. Many winners have gone on to successful writing careers and one has even been a Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. I cannot urge you strongly enough to check out this year’s YPF!

For all the details on The Blank Theatre’s Young Playwrights Festival, click here.

Tragic Love! (LAArtsOnline.com)

^{The Phantom of the Opera (starring Cooper Grodin and Julia Udine) runs June 11–August 2 at the Pantages Theatre (Photo: Matthew Murphy)}

Tragic Love!

By Ken Werther

The Phantom of the Opera began its life in London in 1986 and is currently in its history-making 29th year. Opening in New York in 1988, it has become the longest running musical in Broadway history with 11,375 performances and counting. Phantom has been the Broadway musical against which all others are measured.

The Phantom of the Opera is a timeless story about undeniable obsession that could never die. Far beneath the majesty and splendor of the Paris Opera House hides the Phantom. Shamed by his physical appearance and feared by all, the love he holds for the beautiful Christine Daaé is so strong that ultimately even her heart cannot resist. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s mesmerizing score, Harold Prince’s now legendary direction, jaw-dropping scenery, and breathtaking special effects magically combine to bring this tragic love story to life.

Opening in Los Angeles in 1989, The Phantom of the Opera played at the Ahmanson Theatre for four-and-a-half years. It has since returned to LA multiple times at both the Ahmanson and Pantages Theatres, and this time around the show will also be making a stop at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa in August. It is estimated that Phantom has been seen by more than 140 million people. Wherever you are, the Phantom awaits!

For tickets at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood (June 11-Aug 2), click here. For tickets at Segerstrom Center in Costa Mesa (August 5-16), click here.

NEWS RELEASE — THE BLANK THEATRE ANNOUNCES NEW SUBMISSION PERIOD FOR LIVING ROOM SERIES

THE BLANK THEATRE
ANNOUNCES NEW SUBMISSION PERIOD
FOR LIVING ROOM SERIES

The Blank Theatre in Hollywood is now accepting scripts for its 2015—2016 Living Room Series. Submissions will be accepted between June 1 and August 31, 2015.

Now in its 24th year, Living Room Series is a New Play Development program which embodies The Blank’s commitment to developing new work by both established and emerging writers. Living Room Series takes place on Monday evenings between Labor Day and Memorial Day at The Blank’s 2nd Stage Theatre. This program offers a week-long rehearsal process for the playwright, director, and actors to explore and refine the play before presenting it to an audience. The performances are minimally staged with actors carrying scripts and are a wonderful opportunity for the playwright to get a sense of the play’s full potential.

Living Room Series develops and produces approximately 30 new plays each year. Many of these plays have later received productions at venues including Manhattan Theatre Club, Transport Group, Laguna Playhouse, Malibu Playhouse, The Colony Theatre, Primary Stages, Vineyard Theatre, LaMaMa ETC, and Brideswell Theatre in London. In 2014 The Explorer’s Club by Nell Benjamin (twice developed in the LRS) was produced by Manhattan Theatre Club where it won the NY Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off Broadway Play.

Fourteen plays from the Living Room Series have received mainstage productions at The Blank, including Heads by EM Lewis which won the 2008 Francesca Primus Prize and has had subsequent productions at Theater For A New City and other regional venues. In addition, two of the three 2015 Ebell Prize winners, Aliza Goldstein (1st place) and Val Stulman, (3rd place) are LRS alums.

For submission guidelines and further instructions, visit www.theblank.com and click on The Living Room Series.

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06-01-15