NEWS RELEASE — ONE TIME ONLY READING (TUESDAY 1/12 at 8pm) of “BYHALIA, MISSISSIPPI” by EVAN LINDER as part of NATIONAL EVENT ‘A WORLD PREMIERE CONVERSATION’

SIXTH AVENUE
PRESENTS A READING OF
BYHALIA, MISSISSIPPI
BY EVAN LINDER

ONE NIGHT ONLY READING IS PART OF
THE NATIONAL EVENT
A WORLD PREMIERE CONVERSATION

AT AKBAR IN SILVER LAKE
TUESDAY, JANUARY 12 AT 8PM

Sixth Avenue has announced a one time only reading of Byhalia, Mississippi by Evan Linder on Tuesday, January 12 at 8pm at Akbar in Silver Lake. This reading is part of a national event called ‘A World Premiere Conversation’ — an event simultaneously connecting audiences attending the world premieres of Byhalia, Mississippi at theatres in seven North American cities. A digital conversation on Monday, January 18 will connect creative teams and audiences from all participating cities.

The play is making its world premiere simultaneously in Chicago (The New Colony and Definition Theatre Company), Memphis (Playhouse on the Square), Toronto (Cue6 Theatre), and Charleston (The Village Rep) on January 8, followed by readings in Boulder (Square Product Theatre), Birmingham (Theatre Downtown), and the Sixth Avenue reading in Los Angeles on January 12.

The Los Angeles cast will include (in alphabetical order) Frances Fisher, Charlotte Gulezian, Kristy Johnson, Zhalion Levingston, and Adam Silver.

Byhalia, Mississippi tells the story of Jim and Laurel Parker, a white Mississippi couple whose newborn black baby uncovers a secret affair and ignites racial turmoil in the town. The play is the 2015 winner of the NewWorks@The Works Playwriting Competition at Playhouse on the Square in Memphis and has been short-listed for numerous awards including the Theatre503 Playwriting Award.

Akbar, Silver Lake’s “neighborhood oasis,” is located at 4356 W. Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. Admission is free and reservations are not required. For more information on ‘A World Premiere Conversation” visit wpconvo.com and for more on Sixth Avenue, visit www.6avenue.org.

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01-07-16

NEWS RELEASE — COEURAGE THEATRE COMPANY BENEFIT READING FOR KPCC RADIO HOST STEVE JULIAN — SUNDAY 1/17 at 7:30pm

COEURAGE THEATRE COMPANY
ANNOUNCES BENEFIT READING OF
HEAD OVER HEELS
WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY ERIC CZULEGER
In Honor of KPCC Radio Host Steve Julian

ONE NIGHT ONLY
SUNDAY, JANUARY 17 AT 7:30PM

Coeurage Theatre Company (Jeremy Lelliott, Artistic Director; Nicole Monet, Managing Director), LA’s only Pay What You Want company, has announced a special one night only reading of Head Over Heels, a play written and directed by Coeurage resident playwright Eric Czuleger, on Sunday, January 17 at 7:30pm at The Historic Lankershim Arts Center in North Hollywood. Proceeds from the event will go toward the ongoing medical care of Steve Julian, host of ‘Morning Edition’ on KPCC Radio and Coeurage board member.

In November 2015, Steve Julian was diagnosed with stage four Glioblastoma Multiforme cancer, a brain tumor that grows aggressively and spreads quickly. All proceeds from this benefit reading will go directly to assisting with Julian’s medical expenses and ongoing care. A friend of Coeurage since its founding, his enthusiastic review of its inaugural production of Head Over Heels in 2010 was the first media recognition for the company.

The play: women on the verge of a hysterical breakthrough. Love letters we never thought we’d read, plus rants and raves from women you know and some you don’t. They’re all Head Over Heels.

All actors in the reading appeared in the original production. They are (in alphabetical order) Kay Aston, Julianne Donelle, Aimee Karlin, Selin Mehrabian, Nicole Monet, and Sammi Smith.

Eric Czuleger is a journalist, novelist, screenwriter, and returned Peace Corps volunteer (Albania, 2011—2013). Head Over Heels and its male companion piece L.A. Lights Fire recently finished a three-month run at 13th Street Rep in New York City. Czuleger’s novels include Immortal L.A. and Eternal L.A. He is currently at work on a graphic novel with artist Ange Cox.

Tickets for the Coeurage Theatre Company benefit reading of Head Over Heels are available on a Pay What You Want basis online at www.coeurage.org or by calling (323) 944-2165. To donate directly to Steve Julian’s medical care, go to https://pages.giveforward.com/medical/page-qkl56r3/.

The Historic Lankershim Arts Center is located at 5108 Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood, 91601. Street parking is available.

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01-06-16

NEWS RELEASE — GIVE “HAM” FOR THE HOLIDAYS — DISCOUNT TIX AVAILABLE THRU 12/31 FOR “HAM: A MUSICAL MEMOIR” WRITTEN & PERFORMED BY SAM HARRIS

GIVE HAM FOR THE HOLIDAYS!
Discount Tickets Available Thru December 31

The Los Angeles LGBT Center’s
Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center
In Association with Susan Dietz and Elaine Krauss
Presents

HAM: A MUSICAL MEMOIR
Written and Performed by SAM HARRIS
Directed by Billy Porter
Musical Direction by Todd Schroeder

January 23—February 7, 2016

Direct from a critically acclaimed off-Broadway run, HAM: A Musical Memoir will make its West Coast debut at the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Renberg Theatre with previews beginning January 21 and opening night set for Saturday, January 23. HAM: A Musical Memoir will play a strictly limited engagement through February 7.

Tickets to HAM are the perfect holiday gift. Through December 31, a $5 discount (per ticket) is available online at lalgbtcenter.org/theatre or by calling (323) 860-7300.

Based on Harris’s book HAM: Slices of a Life (Simon & Schuster), the musical play hilariously, passionately, and poignantly takes us from a conflicted childhood in Bible-Belt Oklahoma to the dizzying roller coaster ride of a life in show business to the fulfillment of the impossible dream of fatherhood, culminating in the lessons of a life well lived. Well . . . lived. HAM: A Musical Memoir is directed by Tony Award-winner Billy Porter and musical direction is by acclaimed pianist and composer Todd Schroeder.

There will be two preview performances on Thursday, January 21 at 8pm and Friday, January 22 at 8pm, and opening is set for Saturday, January 23 at 8pm. The regular performance schedule is Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 7pm through February 7. The Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Renberg Theatre is located at 1125 N. McCadden Place (one block east of Highland, just north of Santa Monica Boulevard), in Hollywood, 90038. Free onsite parking is available.

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12-21-15

PHOTO: SAM HARRIS.  PHOTO BY TIMMY BLUPE.