NEWS RELEASE — QUEER CLASSICS PRESENTS “THE TAMING OF THE SHREW” (AN EXPLORATION OF GENDER EXPRESSION) AT 2015 HOLLYWOOD FRINGE FESTIVAL

QUEER CLASSICS PRESENTS

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
(AN EXPLORATION OF GENDER EXPRESSION)
CONCEIVED & DIRECTED BY CASEY KRINGLEN

AT 2015 HOLLYWOOD FRINGE FESTIVAL
SIX PERFORMANCES ONLY
THE OTHER SPACE AT THE ACTORS COMPANY

Following last year’s critically acclaimed sold-out production of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, Queer Classics will re-imagine William Shakespeare’s controversial and often polarizing commedia dell’arte comedy, The Taming of the Shrew (An Exploration of Gender Expression). Conceived and directed by Casey Kringlen, this unique exploration of gender expression in the comedic style of I Love Lucy comes to the 2015 Hollywood Fringe Festival for six performances only.

In the Queer Classics version of modern times, Kate and Petruchio might identify as trans, but the 1950s are a completely different world. In this new and sexy adaptation, the lead lovers explore their expression of gender in a time before there were labels to define it.

Performance dates and times are as follows — Saturday 6/6 at 7pm (press preview); Thursday 6/11 at 10:30pm; Saturday 6/20 at 2pm; Sunday 6/21 at 3:30pm; Friday 6/26 at 9:30pm; and Sunday 6/28 at 10am. Running time will be 80 minutes.

This production of The Taming of the Shrew (An Exploration of Gender Expression) is part of the City of West Hollywood’s One City One Pride LGBTQ Arts Festival. For more information, visit www.weho.org/pride.

Queer Classics is dedicated to sharing classic stories re-imagined through a queer lens — art for the LGBTQ community and its supporters. Visit www.queerclassics.com.

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04-09-15

NEWS RELEASE — “ACTING DEAD” WEB SERIES WINS FOUR INDIE SERIES AWARDS

WEB SERIES ACTING DEAD
WINS FOUR INDIE SERIES AWARDS
AT CEREMONY HELD AT EL PORTAL THEATRE
IN NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA
ON APRIL 1, 2015

Acting Dead, a web series created by Brian Beacock and produced by Beacock, Susan Bernhardt, and Paul Nygro, won four Indie Series Awards (ISA) at the sixth annual ceremony, held on April 1 at the historic El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood, CA. Acting Dead is the semi-dark tale of the world of Hollywood Zombies in which actors Tate and Alex, trying to get cast in any number of ever-growing zombie-based TV shows and movies, actually become … zombies.

Nominated for 10 ISAs, Acting Dead took home four: Best Writing for a Comedy (Beacock), Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy (Galya), Best Guest Actor in a Comedy (Vogt), and Best Comedy Series. The ceremony was hosted by Acting Dead’s own Eric Martsolf.

Brian Beacock and Susan Bernhardt are known for their earlier web series, the critically acclaimed McCracken Live! (Beacock) and Miss Behave (Bernhardt). Acting Dead, a ‘Zom-Com’ which has been gleefully described as Shaun of the Dead meets Arrested Development, features Beacock, Jillian Clare (Alien Abduction), Chris Galya (Disney’s Jessie), Patrika Darbo, Nygro, and John Yelvington. There are guest appearances by (in alphabetical order) Lori Alan, Cocoa Brown, Debbie Gibson, Carolyn Hennesy, Sean Kanan, Christine Lakin, Eric Martsolf, Mitch Silpa, Peter Allen Vogt, and John J. York.

Acting Dead may be seen on JTS.TV or at www.actingdead.com. The production team is now preparing the second season and will be appearing at festivals and conventions throughout 2015.

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04-08-15

Facebook.com/Acting Dead
Twitter.com @actingdead

ASSISTANT DIRECTING: COEURAGE THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS “THE WOODSMAN” — OPENING MAY 8 & 9 AT LYRIC-HYPERION THEATRE & CAFE

COEURAGE THEATRE COMPANY
LA’S ‘PAY WHAT YOU WANT’ THEATRE COMPANY
PRESENTS
THE WOODSMAN
BY STEVEN FECHTER
DIRECTED BY JEREMY LELLIOTT

BEGINS PERFORMANCES MAY 6
AT LYRIC-HYPERION THEATRE & CAFE

Coeurage Theatre Company, LA’s ‘Pay What You Want’ Company, has announced the second production of its 2015 season, The Woodsman by Steven Fechter, directed by Jeremy Lelliott. There will be two preview performances on Wednesday, May 6 and Thursday, May 7 at 8pm and opening will be split between Friday, May 8 at 8pm and Saturday, May 9 at 8pm. The Woodsman will play through June 13 at the Lyric-Hyperion Theatre & Cafe in Silver Lake.

The cast will feature (in alphabetical order) Venny Caranza, Tim Cummings, Julianne Donelle, Mark Jacobson, Nardeep Khurmi, John Klopping, Gregor Manns, Katie Pelensky, Cesar Ramos, Christopher Salazar, Erin Sanzo, and Joey Nicole Thomas. Scenic design is by Sammi Smith, lighting design is by Michael Kozachenko, costume design is by Heather Korn, sound design is by Joseph V. Calarco, and the movement coach is Donna Eshelman. The stage manager is Emily Goodall.

Having just been released from prison after 12 years for molesting young girls, Walter is determined to find a ‘cure’ for his disease. In order to keep his desires from turning back into damaging behavior he must face down his demons once and for all. Having isolated himself from his loved ones, Walter relies on unexpected sources to help him move on with his life.

Playwright Steven Fechter’s theatrical works have been produced throughout North America and Europe. He co-wrote the screenplay for the 2004 film version of The Woodsman starring Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick and was nominated for the Humanitas Prize in screenwriting. Fechter’s other plays include The Land-Surveyor, The Commission, The Golden Aurora, The Artifacts, The Mentee, Lancelot, and Shakespeare’s Slave. He is a member of EST Playwrights Unit, Resonance Ensemble, Oberon Theatre Ensemble, and the Dramatists Guild.

The Woodsman will play two preview performances on Wednesday, May 6 and Thursday, May 7 at 8pm and opening will be split between Friday, May 8 at 8pm and Saturday, May 9 at 8pm. The regular running schedule is Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8pm through June 13 only. All seats are available on a Pay What You Want basis, and may be reserved online at www.coeurage.org/tickets or by calling (323) 944-2165.

The Lyric-Hyperion Theatre & Cafe is located at 2106 Hyperion Avenue in Los Angeles, 90027. Street parking is available.

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04-08-15