NEWS RELEASE — STEVEN LEIGH MORRIS NAMED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT LA STAGE ALLIANCE

LA STAGE ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES
STEVEN LEIGH MORRIS
AS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

THE LASA BOARD LOOKS TO NEW LEADERSHIP
TO CONTINUE THE WORK OF THE 40-YEAR-OLD
ARTS SERVICE ORGANIZATION

Steven Leigh Morris has been named Executive Director of LA STAGE Alliance, it was announced today by Brian Kite, LASA Board Chair. Morris succeeds longtime leader Terence McFarland, who left the post in April of this year. Morris’s start date with the not-for-profit arts service organization will be announced shortly.

“Steven Leigh Morris is an incredible presence in Los Angeles theatre,” said LASA Board Chair Brian Kite. “As a community, he has praised us when our work soared and looked us in the eye when we missed the mark — he is a true leader. It is my honor to introduce such a talented, inspiring, and creative force as the new leader of LA STAGE Alliance.”

Said Morris, “I’m grateful and honored by the trust LASA has placed in me and I feel privileged to be working with this fine organization to serve such a smart and impassioned community. The key word in LASA’s name is “alliance,” and that’s what I hope to accentuate in this new role — how can we work together to forge the kinds of alliances that can help give the LA theatre community the traction, recognition and audiences it needs and deserves?”

Steven Leigh Morris is the founding editor of the community-funded digital arts venture Stage Raw (www.stageraw.com). Morris chaired the Jury for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2012 and served on that Jury in 2011. For his writings in the LA Weekly he received the Critic of the Year prize from the National Entertainment Journalism Awards in 2011. His play Moskva, adapted from Mikhail Bulgakov’s novel The Master and Margarita was produced by City Garage in Santa Monica’s Bergamot Station last year. His play Beachwood Drive was presented off-Broadway and was subsequently published by both Samuel French and Smith & Kraus (in its Best New American Playwrights of 2009 anthology). His farce about the press, Red Ink, has been in development at the New York Theatre Workshop, The Yale Cabaret Hollywood, and Echo Theater Company. Morris has been the lead theatre critic at the LA Weekly for 15 years. His theatre features have also been published in The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, American Theatre Magazine, Back Stage, World’s Fair Magazine in San Francisco, and DRAMA Magazine in London. From 2006 to 2011 Morris served on the faculty of the NEA/Annenberg School of Journalism Institute for Criticism in Theatre and Musical Theatre. He has been an adjunct professor of theatre at the University of Southern California, and currently serves as adjunct professor of theatre at California State University San Bernardino and Dominguez Hills. Morris’s first novel, Fowl Play, combining his dual passions for theatre and barnyard poultry, will be published by Padaro Press and Open Road Media in the spring of 2016.

Since 1975, LA STAGE Alliance has dedicated to building awareness, appreciation, and support for the performing arts in Greater Los Angeles. All of its initiatives aim to serve and strengthen the sector — both at an individual and community level — providing resources that facilitate audience engagement, collaborative marketing, community building, and professional development.

For more information, visit lastagealliance.com.

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11-03-15

Photo by Ron Bird Photography.

NEWS RELEASE — FRENCH & VANESSA CLAIRE STEWART SET TO HOST 2015 OVATION AWARDS

FRENCH & VANESSA CLAIRE STEWART
SET TO HOST
THE 2015 OVATION AWARDS CEREMONY
AT THE AHMANSON THEATRE
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9 AT 7:30PM

French and Vanessa Claire Stewart have been set to host the 2015 LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Awards Ceremony on Monday, November 9 at the Ahmanson Theatre at The Music Center. Red carpet arrivals begin at 6pm and the curtain will rise at 7:30pm.

French Stewart has been a proud participant in L.A. theatre for the past 30 years, both as a member of Justin Tanner’s legendary Cast Theatre (Zombie Attack, Pot Mom, Party Mix, Teen Girl and Happy Time Xmas) and as a member of Sacred Fools Theater Company. Selected stage credits include Matthew Modine Saves The Alpacas, Watson, Voice Lessons, and Stoneface (at The Pasadena Playhouse). Stewart is best known for his work on the classic TV series Third Rock From The Sun. Other television credits include Seinfeld, The Larry Sanders Show, Just Shoot Me, The Drew Carey Show, Newsradio, Community, Psych, Bones, The Closer, Castle, Pushing Daisies, Private Practice, Mom, and a recurring role on The Middle. Stewart’s film credits include Stargate, Leaving Las Vegas, Surveillance, The Flock, and cult favorite Love Stinks.

Vanessa Claire Stewart is co-artistic director of Sacred Fools Theater Company. She co-wrote and starred as Keely Smith in Louis and Keely: Live at the Sahara which won Ovation Awards for Best Actress and Best Musical and the LA Weekly Award for Best Musical. She also penned Stoneface for husband French Stewart. She is writing the book and lyrics for an original musical about serial killer HH Holmes entitled Deadly which was recently workshopped at Sacred Fools and The Chance Theater. Film and television credits include The List, Girls Girls Girls, Rules of Engagement, The Wanda Sykes Show, and the upcoming Sensitive Men.

Sponsors for this year’s Ovation Awards ceremony are The Sheri & Les Biller Family Foundation, TheaterMania, Goldstar, Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Entertainment, USC School of Dramatic Arts, UCLA School of Theater, Film & Television, Variety, Green Hasson Janks, Bakers Man Productions, Performances Magazine, City Tavern, Peter Konerko Photography, and Ken Werther Publicity. For more information and details on how to attend the Ovation Awards ceremony on November 9, visit www.OvationAwards.com.

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10-27-15

NEWS RELEASE — THELMA HOUSTON: ‘MY MOTOWN — MUSIC, MEMORIES, AND MORE’ — CATALINA BAR & GRILL ON FRI 10/23 & SAT 10/24

CHRIS ISAACSON PRESENTS
ANNOUNCES
GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING MUSIC LEGEND
THELMA HOUSTON
“MY MOTOWN: MUSIC, MEMORIES, AND MORE”

CATALINA BAR & GRILL IN HOLLYWOOD
TWO SHOWS ONLY
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23 & SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24 AT 8:30PM

Chris Isaacson Presents has announced that Grammy Award-winning recording artist and music legend Thelma Houston will bring her new show My Motown: Music, Memories, and More to the Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood for two shows only on Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24 at 8:30pm.

Perhaps best known for her number one international hit “Don’t Leave Me This Way,” Thelma Houston began her career singing for Capitol Records with The Art Reynolds Singers and then as a solo artist. “Sunshower,” her critically acclaimed album composed and produced by Jimmy Webb for ABC/Dunhill Records, was released in 1969 and spawned four popular singles. In 1977, her version of “Don’t Leave Me This Way” for Motown Records soared to number one in the United States and London and became a hit in at least twelve other countries. In her new show My Motown: Music, Memories, and More, Houston takes her audience on a musical and inspirational journey that chronicles her illustrious career. Sharing intimate stories and behind-the-scenes adventures against a tapestry of more than 20 classic Motown hits, Houston performs songs originally recorded by Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas and more, leading up to her iconic Grammy Award-winning number one pop song “Don’t Leave Me This Way.” After 45 years of performing, 23 Studio Albums and winning a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Houston continues to celebrate her long and outstanding career.

On October 23, singer/songwriter Jade Hendrix will be opening for Thelma Houston. A native of Ojai, CA, Hendrix spends much of her time writing songs but has now realized her dream to become a singer as well with her debut CD “Carry Me Away.” She is now in the studio working on a new album.

Thelma Houston will play two performances only at Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 W. Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood on Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24 at 8:30pm. Doors open at 7pm for cocktail and dinner service. Single entrée or drink minimums apply. Admission is $20-$35 and VIP seating is available (including front row seats and a meet-and-greet with Ms. Houston) for $50. Purchases made before October 16 receive $5 off. Tickets may be obtained online at www.TicketWeb.com or by phone at (866) 468-3399. For more information, visit ThelmaHouston.com, ChrisIsaacsonPresents.com, or TicketWeb.com.

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10-07-15