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 — 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.

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06-24-15

NEWS RELEASE — SPECIAL PERFORMANCES OF “THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES” WILL BENEFIT V-DAY MOVEMENT AND PROTECT.ORG

All-Star Cast Will Perform
The Vagina Monologues
to Benefit V-Day and Protect.org

Popular LATalkRadio Host Sheena Metal
Directs the Eve Ensler Play
at the Atwater Village Theatre Speakeasy

Four Performances Only
May 22 & 29 / June 5 & 13

A who’s who of film and television stars will perform Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues in an intimate theatrical setting for four benefit performances only, May 22 & 29 and June 5 & 13 at 8pm, at the Atwater Village Theatre in Los Angeles. Produced and directed by Sheena Metal for Ensemble Studio Theatre Los Angeles, all proceeds will benefit V-Day (vday.org), A Global Movement to End Violence Against Women and Girls, and protect.org, a national pro-child, anti-crime association committed to building a powerful, nonpartisan force for the protection of children from abuse, exploitation and neglect.

“It is exciting to work with so many great actresses, all of whom are graciously donating their time and talents,” said Metal, whose popular LATalkRadio show, The Sheena Metal Experience (M-F, 5-7pm) is only one of four programs she hosts on LATR each week. “I salute every artist, onstage and off, that is contributing to this special presentation of The Vagina Monologues.”

Each evening will feature a different group of performers. Among the long list of luminous actors are (in alphabetical order) Alison Arngrim, Martha Byrne, Cherie Currie, Frances Fisher, Carolyn Hennesy, Kate Linder, Sandy Martin, Lee Meriwether, Jenny O’Hara, Susan Olsen, Alexandra Paul, Joan Van Ark, and Debra Wilson. All appearances are subject to availability.

To date, the V-Day movement, founded by playwright/actress Eve Ensler, has raised over $75 million and educated millions about the issue of violence against women and the efforts to end it. In 2006, the V-Day movement was named one of Marie Claire Magazine’s Top Ten Charities, and in 2010, over 5400 V-Day benefit events took place produced by volunteer activists in the U.S. and around the world, educating millions of people about the reality of violence against women and girls. In more than a dozen years, the V-Day movement has reached over 300 million people.
These special performances of The Vagina Monologues are on Fridays, May 22 & 29 and Fridays, June 5 & 13, at 8pm. Tickets are $25, and may be purchased online at www.vdaylosangeles.com. The Atwater Village Theatre Speakeasy is located at 3269 Casitas Avenue, in Los Angeles.

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05-19-15