Designated Survivor (LAArtsOnline.com)

^{Cast of Designated Survivor premiere September 21st on ABC}

Designated Survivor!
By Ken Werther

In the United States, a designated survivor is an individual in the presidential line of succession who is placed at a physically distant, secure, undisclosed location when the President and the country’s other top leaders are gathered at a single location, such as during State of the Union addresses and presidential inaugurations. The intent is to maintain continuity of government in the event of a catastrophic occurrence that kills the president and others in the line of succession. Did you know any of that? I sure didn’t!

One of the most anticipated new television series this fall is — you guessed it — Designated Survivor. This ABC suspense thriller will star Kiefer Sutherland as Tom Kirkman, the designated survivor who becomes president when very bad things happen. Without warning, Kirkman faces the challenges of keeping the country from falling apart while leading the search to find out who is responsible for the very bad things that landed him in the Oval Office.

After eight seasons of 24, Sutherland was disinclined to take on the rigors of another TV series. When he read the pilot script of Designated Survivor, however, he instantly changed his mind. I’ve seen that pilot episode but I’m not allowed to share anything about it here… so I’ll just say this: plan to watch.

“Designated Survivor” premieres on ABC on September 21st.

The Fantasticks (LAArtsOnline.com)

^{The Fantasticks is at The Pasadena Playhouse September 6-October 2nd}

The Fantasticks
By Ken Werther

The Fantasticks is the longest-running musical in recorded history. It opened off-Broadway on May 3, 1960 and ran for 42 years! The show played 17,162 performances before closing on January 13, 2002. And then … a revival opened off-Broadway on August 23, 2006 where it continues to run today! Jerry Orbach, the beloved Lennie Briscoe on Law & Order, was in the original cast of The Fantasticks. He created the role of El Gallo (pronounced guy-o), the character that opens the show with the now iconic song, “Try to Remember.”

The allegorical story revolves around two neighboring fathers who trick their offspring into falling in love. They build a wall (portrayed by one of the characters known as The Mute) between their houses to keep the kids apart, and at one point in the story, the fathers hire two old actors, Henry and Mortimer, to stage an abduction of the young girl.

To see how all these pieces fit together, head out to The Pasadena Playhouse this month where Hal Linden, still going strong at 85, will be playing Henry in a new production of The Fantasticks. Personal note: I played the role of The Mute in high school and my dad kept telling me to “go rehearse my part.” (True story.) Go see the show — I promise you a delightful time!

For show times and tickets, click here.

NEWS RELEASE — LA NEW COURT THEATRE PRESENTS “ATLAS PIT or THE GARBAGE MAN’S SON” — OPENS FRIDAY 9/30 at 8pm

LOS ANGELES NEW COURT THEATRE
Theatre for Everyone Under the Sun
PRESENTS
THE WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCTION OF

ATLAS PIT
or THE GARBAGE MAN’S SON
WRITTEN BY ALEX BURKART
DIRECTED BY BETH LOPES
ORIGINAL SONGS BY KYLE ACHESON

SEPTEMBER 30 — OCTOBER 23
AT WORKING STAGE THEATER

Los Angeles New Court Theatre has announced its world premiere production of Atlas Pit or The Garbage Man’s Son, a new play by Alex Burkart at Working Stage Theater from September 30 through October 23. Directed by Beth Lopes and featuring original songs by Kyle Acheson, the cast will feature (in alphabetical order) Daniel Braunstein, Michael Chandler, Devereau Chumrau, Herman Johansen, Josey Montana McCoy, and Nancy Stone. Opening is set for Friday, September 30 at 8pm and the strictly limited engagement of 12 performances will run through October 23 only.

Atlas Pit or The Garbage Man’s Son is the tale of 18-year-old Ozzy, whose girlfriend Gray drowns in an old gravel quarry in Milton, Wisconsin. Gray’s sudden death sends Ozzy into a severe depression; he runs away from home and shuts himself up in a seedy apartment. In his continued quest to find escape, Ozzy stumbles upon a brand of heroin that brings users so close to death that “they see those waiting for them on the other side.” Atlas Pit is inspired by the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice and explores the ideas of addiction, love, life, and faith. The scenic design is by Morgan Lindsey Price, lighting design is by Toranj Noroozi, costume design is by Emily Fisher, and sound design is by Isaiah Howell. The assistant director is Josh Gannon and the stage manager is Rebekah York.

Playwright Alex Burkart is a co-founder of the Los Angeles New Court Theatre and is currently its board president. He also works as the manager at ZBS Acting Studios. His acting work has been seen across the country, including the American premiere of Tom Stoppard’s Pirandello’s Henry IV at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Adam Sandler’s Jack and Jill, and a reading of Edward Albee’s Me, Myself, and I at Playwrights Horizons alongside Elizabeth Ashley and Brian Murray. Burkart’s directing credits include Neil Simon’s Fools and Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night for Los Angeles New Court Theatre as well as It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play for TheatreVCU. Originally from Wisconsin, Atlas Pit has been a bold and personal stroke for him; it is his first full-length play. For more, visit www.alexburkart.com.

Director Beth Lopes directed last year’s Jason & (Medea) for Los Angeles New Court Theatre. Some of her recent projects include Hamlet with New Swan Shakespeare Festival, The Winter’s Tale with San Antonio Shakespeare in the Park, and the development of the new rock musical The Merry Lives of Windsor High with Los Angeles company mediaV. For more, visit www.bethlopes.com.

The opening of The Atlas Pit or The Garbage Man’s Son is set for Friday, September 30 at 8pm. All seating is general admission and tickets are $20. The running schedule is Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 3pm through October 23 only. Tickets may be purchased online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2593462 or by calling (303) 619-0203.

Working Stage Theater is located at 1516 N. Gardner Street in Los Angeles. Street parking is available.

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08-30-16