NEWS RELEASE — THE BLANK THEATRE PRESENTS “THE BOOK OF LIZ” BENEFIT STAGED READING ON MONDAY 7/20 AT 8PM

THE BLANK THEATRE
ANNOUNCES A ONE NIGHT ONLY BENEFIT EVENT

A STAGED READING OF
THE BOOK OF LIZ
BY DAVID SEDARIS AND AMY SEDARIS
DIRECTED BY DARIN ANTHONY

PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT THE BLANK’S ANNUAL
YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL

ONE NIGHT ONLY
MONDAY, JULY 20 AT 8PM
AT THE LOS ANGELES LGBT CENTER’S
RENBERG THEATRE

Hollywood’s Blank Theatre has announced a one night only staged reading of The Book of Liz by David Sedaris and Amy Sedaris, directed by Darin Anthony. The benefit event, which will raise funds for The Blank’s Young Playwrights Festival (currently completing its 23rd year) is set for Monday, July 20 at 8pm at the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Renberg Theatre.

This staged reading of The Book of Liz will celebrate the 10th Anniversary of The Blank’s long-running hit and will be performed by members of the original Blank cast (in alphabetical order): Tisha Terrasini Banker (Chastity Bites), Brian Carpenter (Superhero Movie), Matt Crabtree (Failing Upwards), Warren Davis (Yesterday Was A Lie), Bonita Friedericy (Chuck), Tom Lenk (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Johanna McKay (Yesterday Was A Lie), David St. James (iCarly), Kirsten Vangsness (Criminal Minds), Deborah Van Valkenburgh (Too Close for Comfort), Jeff Witzke (Vampires Suck), Sam Zeller (Kinky Boots National Tour), and Tamara Zook (Sons of the Prophet).

In 2005, The Blank Theatre’s production of The Book of Liz, originally slated for a six-week engagement, became a year-long runaway hit. At the conclusion of its run, 22 different actors had played 15 different characters over the course of 192 performances. This benefit reading is produced for The Blank Theatre by Sarah Allyn Bauer, Stacy Reed Payton, and Jeff Witzke.

The Book of Liz follows the hilarious, sweaty journey of Sister Elizabeth Donderstock and her amazing cheese balls. She feels under-appreciated among her traditional Squeamish brethren and decides to leave the quaint community of Custerhaven to try her luck in the outside world. Along the way she meets a cast of crazy characters, including the Cockney-speaking Ukrainian immigrants who take her in and the wait staff of a pilgrim themed restaurant called Plymouth Crock. Is all of this any better than her old life? Can the Squeamish survive without her? Will the cheese balls ever taste good again? The answers to these and so many other questions are found in this quirky comedy by David Sedaris and Amy Sedaris.

Ticket prices for the 10th Anniversary staged reading of The Book of Liz on July 20 at 8pm range from $50—$125 and are on sale now. To purchase online go to www.TheBlank.com or call (323) 661-9827. The LALGBT Center’s Renberg Theatre is located at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N. McCadden Place (one block east of Highland, just north of Santa Monica Boulevard), in Hollywood. Free onsite parking is available.

# # #

06-24-15

NEWS RELEASE — COEURAGE THEATRE COMPANY SETS FUNDRAISER FOR SUNDAY 7/5 AT 7PM

COEURAGE THEATRE COMPANY
SETS FUNDRAISING GALA
SUNDAY, JULY 5 AT 7PM

Coeurage Theatre Company (Jeremy Lelliott, Artistic Director; Nicole Monet, Managing Director), LA’s only Pay What You Want company, has announced a Gala Evening to raise funds for its upcoming production of Failure: A Love Story by Philip Dawkins. The event begins at 7pm on Sunday, July 5 at the famed Formosa Cafe in West Hollywood.

Libations, music, prizes, and Independence Day weekend partygoers will abound. The evening will include live music by Ovation Award-winning company member Gregory Nabours and a silent auction and raffle featuring exciting items as complimentary passes to The Magic Castle, restaurant gift cards, accessories by Coach, fine liquors, free acting classes, and “renting” members of Coeurage Theatre Company to perform various tasks around the house, carpentry, cooking, and even creating your own short film.

The upcoming Coeurage production of Failure: A Love Story by Philip Dawkins, directed by Michael Matthews, is set to open on Friday, July 24 at 8pm at GTC Burbank. Failure is a touching, whimsical tale that explores the impermanence of life and the permanence of love.

Admission to the Coeurage Theatre Company Fundraising Gala is $20 and tickets may be purchased online at www.coeurage.org/tickets or by calling (323) 944-2165. The Formosa Cafe is located at 7156 Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, 90046.

Tax deductible donations may also be made online at http://www.coeurage.org/donate/.

# # #

06-24-15

NEWS RELEASE — WORLD PREMIERE PLAY “STANLEY ANN: THE UNLIKELY STORY OF BARACK OBAMA’S MOTHER” STARRING ANN NOBLE SET TO OPEN AT LOS ANGELES LGBT CENTER JULY 9

The Los Angeles LGBT Center’s
Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center
Victoria Mudd and Elizabeth Yng-Wong Present

A World Premiere Play
STANLEY ANN:
The Unlikely Story of Barack Obama’s Mother
Written by Mike Kindle
Directed by Mark Bringelson
Performed by Ann Noble

OPENS JULY 9 AT 8PM
at the Davidson/Valentini Theatre

The Los Angeles LGBT Center, Victoria Mudd, and Elizabeth Yng-Wong have announced the world premiere production of Stanley Ann: The Unlikely Story of Barack Obama’s Mother. The one-woman play, written by Mike Kindle and directed by Mark Bringelson, chronicles the life of Stanley Ann Dunham from her young adult years in Hawaii to her later professional life in Indonesia. Starring Ann Noble (The Goat or, Who Is Sylvia?), Stanley Ann will play two preview performances on July 7 and 8 at 8pm and opening is set for Thursday, July 9 at 8pm at the Center’s Davidson/Valentini Theatre.

Stanley Ann introduces a brave, idealistic, adventurous woman whose moral compass dictated painful choices. Drawing on actual events, the play follows Dunham’s journey from single motherhood to international adventurer through a crisis of conscience at the farthest edge of the American Empire.

First workshopped at the Powerhouse Theatre in Santa Monica, Stanley Ann was further refined in Washington, DC at the Capital Fringe Festival with Ms. Noble in the title role. Now Mudd and Yng-Wong are teaming up with the Los Angeles LGBT Center to present the world premiere of this revealing and electrifying new play.

Mike Kindle (Playwright) received his BA in Drama from the University of Virginia and his MFA in Theatre from UCLA. He is highly active in the Los Angeles theatre community, is a proud member of the oft-recognized Los Angeles Theater Ensemble, and has worked for Center Theatre Group.

Mark Bringelson (Director) is a multi-award-winning director and actor who works in theatre, film, TV, opera, and music videos. The long list of world premieres he has directed for the stage include, most recently, Michael Kearns’ BANG BANG at Highways Performance Space, Susan Rubin’s EVE2 at Bootleg Theatre, and Tony Foster’s Swimmer’s Ear at Skylight Theatre. Bringelson wrote and directed the 60-minute noir film Obedience and the short film Phonecall. He also directed two pilots for HBO, Tug and Buster and Caveman.

Actress Ann Noble is one of LA’s most accomplished and celebrated actresses. A member of The Antaeus Company, Noble is also an accomplished playwright and producer. Most recently she received extraordinary praise for her multiple award-winning role as Stevie in the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s universally acclaimed production of Edward Albee’s The Goat or, Who Is Sylvia?

There will be two preview performances on Tuesday, July 7 at 8pm and Wednesday, July 8 at 8pm. Stanley Ann will open on Thursday, July 9 at 8pm. General admission tickets for are $15 for previews and $20 for regular performances and may be purchased online at www.lalgbtcenter.org/theatre or by phone at (323) 860-7300. The performance schedule is Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 7pm through July 26 only. Net proceeds from ticket sales will support the full range of free and low-cost programs and services offered by the Los Angeles LGBT Center.

# # #

06-09-15