Archived entries for Blank Theatre Company

PRESS RELEASE — AUDIENCE TALKBACK AT BLANK THEATRE’S “THE WHY” ON SUNDAY 9/28 AT 3:30PM

THE BLANK THEATRE
PRESENTS
AN AUDIENCE TALKBACK SESSION
SUNDAY 9/28 AT 3:30PM

FOLLOWING THE MATINEE PERFORMANCE OF
THE WHY

The Why - Blast BannerThe Blank Theatre (Daniel Henning, Founding Artistic Director; Noah Wyle, Artistic Producer) has announced an audience talkback session following the matinee performance of The Why on Sunday, September 28. The conversation begins at 3:30pm at the 2nd Stage Theatre in Hollywood. The event is scheduled to last one hour.

The Why is a fast-paced tragicomedy — one part modern satire, one part honest investigation of school shootings. Of the production, Paul Birchall of StageAndCinema.com said, “Crackles with genuine anger and frustration at the horrors of gun violence … sincere and powerful … there’s a lot of passion here, depicted with commendable skill and ferocity.” And from Shari Barrett at BroadwayWorld.com, ” … sickening, mind-bending, and totally necessary to point a finger right where it belongs — at all of us.”

Blank Theatre board member Paolo Andres will serve as moderator, and members of organizations with opposing viewpoints will be present to participate in the conversation. Shoot Safe Learning is a training school at which quality training is administered to law abiding citizens by using the best teaching techniques in a safe environment that instill proper attitude and discipline. Women Against Gun Violence (WAGV) seeks to educate the public, policymakers, and the media about the human, financial, and public health consequences of gun violence. Taking on gun violence as a women’s issue and focusing on violence prevention on a community level forms the basis of this organization’s work.

Playwright Victor Kaufold was just 19 years old when he wrote The Why in response to the Columbine tragedy. The play was a Blank Theatre Young Playwrights Festival winner and was later produced on The Blank’s mainstage. Kaufold received an LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Award nomination for World Premiere Play, the youngest person ever to do so.

The cast of The Why features (in alphabetical order) Ben Crowley, Nicholas Cutro, Jen Landon, and Jeff Witzke. The regular performance schedule is Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm through October 19. Admission is $30 (student price is $20; must show valid ID), and tickets may be purchased online at www.TheBlank.com or via phone at (323) 661-9827.

The Blank’s 2nd Stage Theatre is located at 6500 Santa Monica Boulevard (at Wilcox), in Hollywood.

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09-24-14

PRESS RELEASE — BLANK THEATRE YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL KICK-OFF EVENT MAY 16

THE BLANK THEATRE HOSTS LAUNCH PARTY
FOR ITS 22ND ANNUAL
YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL

FRIDAY, MAY 16 AT 8PM

The Blank Theatre - Young Playwrights Festival LogoThe Blank Theatre has announced a special event, free and open to the public, on Friday, May 16 at 8pm celebrating the 22nd anniversary of its Nationwide Young Playwrights Festival, which this year will run June 5—29 at the Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood.

The launch activities will take place at Los Angeles Film School (Main Theatre), 6353 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. This will be an opportunity to meet and chat with YPF alums and this year’s local winners along with participating actors, directors, mentors, and producers of the upcoming Festival. Members of The Blank Theatre artistic staff will also be in attendance, and the evening will feature the debut of a mini-documentary about the Young Playwrights Festival and its history. Admission is free, but reservations are required at www.TheBlank.com.

Over the past 21 years, The Blank has produced more than 240 plays by young playwrights including 11 that have gone on to be presented on The Blank’s mainstage. Many of the plays have been nominated for LA theatre honors, including Ovation and LA Weekly Awards. Many YPF winners have gone on to successful writing careers creating TV shows, filling regional stages, teaching writing to others, and founding regional Young Playwrights Festivals.

This year’s winning plays are: NINE HOURS by Zoe Kamil, San Francisco, CA, Age 18; WHAT WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PLANNED PARENTHOOD by Alexa Derman, Westfield, NJ, Age 17; ROCK CANDY by Gabrielle Greenfield, Dallas, TX, Age 19; BAROPHOBIA by Aiyana White, Encino, CA, Age 18; THE SON ALSO RISES by Patric Verrone, Pacific Palisades, CA, Age 18; PAM by Agnes Nguyen, Anaheim, CA, Age 19; PILLOW TALK by Zoe Cheng, Cincinnati, OH, Age 17; INNOCENCE by Matt Ubl, Jacksonville, FL, Age 18; THE RUB by Max Friedlich, New York, NY, Age 19; FAIREST by Frank Garland, Seattle, WA, Age 16; THE NOT LESBIANS by Travis Amiel, Millwood, NY, Age 18; and BLACK SHEEP by Robert Gold, Valley Village, CA, Age 17.

This year’s festival is made possible by The Rosenthal Family Foundation, The Plum Foundation, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, and the office of City Councilman 4th District Tom LaBonge.

The Blank Theatre’s 22nd Annual Young Playwrights Festival runs June 5 — 29 at the Stella Adler Theatre, 6773 Hollywood Boulevard, in Hollywood. The performance schedule is Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm. Each week’s program includes three plays, and admission is $20 for adults and $14 for students. Festival passes, which are good for one ticket each week of the festival, are $68 for adults and $48 for students. Tickets may be purchased in advance online at www.TheBlank.com, or via phone by calling (323) 661-9827.

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05-09-14

Announcing: Blank Theatre Presents World Premiere of “Sukie & Sue: Their Story” by Michael John LaChiusa

LINDSEY BROAD, RAE FOSTER, LENNY JACOBSON
AND MACKENZIE PHILLIPS
LEAD THE CAST OF THE BLANK THEATRE’S WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCTION OF SUKIE & SUE: THEIR STORY
BY MICHAEL JOHN LACHIUSA
DIRECTED BY KIRSTEN SANDERSON

FINAL PRODUCTION OF THE BLANK’S 21ST SEASON
BEGINS PERFORMANCES APRIL 21 AT 2ND STAGE THEATRE IN HOLLYWOOD
OPENS SATURDAY, APRIL 28 AT 8PM

Sukie & Sue: Their Story poster - The BlankCasting is complete and rehearsals have begun for The Blank Theatre’s world premiere production of Sukie & Sue: Their Story by Michael John LaChiusa, directed by Kirsten Sanderson. Developed last year in The Blank’s Living Room Series, Sukie & Sue: Their Story is the only play ever written by LaChiusa, who has received five Tony Award nominations for his musicals. Sukie & Sue: Their Story begins previews on April 21, and opening is set for Saturday, April 28 at 8pm. The engagement will run through Sunday, June 3.

Based on actual events, Sukie & Sue: Their Story tells the creepy yet funny tale of two young nurses who have everything to live for … great boyfriends, jobs that actually help people, and as much weed as they can smoke. That is until their Raggedy Ann doll becomes possessed and destroys their lives. Packed with laughter, this play is likely to send audiences home checking under their beds for demons with hair made of red yarn.

The cast, in alphabetical order, is Nick Ballard, Lindsey Broad (The Office, 21 Jump Street), Elena Campbell-Martinez, Eddie Driscoll, Rae Foster, Lenny Jacobson (Nurse Jackie), Mary-Beth Manning, and Mackenzie Phillips (One Day at a Time). Kirsten Sanderson has directed new works by Michael John LaChiusa, Craig Lucas, Shel Silverstein, Stephen Schwartz, and Blake Edwards, among others. For The Blank, Sanderson also directed LaChiusa’s Little Fish, and last season’s Terre Haute by Edmund White, starring Mike Farrell and Jim Parrack.

Along with an original underscore by Michael John LaChiusa, the design team for Sukie & Sue: Their Story includes set by Eric Broadwater, lighting by Stephanette Smith, costumes by Bethany Jane Bohatila, props and special effects by Stephen Weston, and sound by Warren Davis. Producers are Matthew Graber, Daniel Henning, and Noah Wyle, and the stage manager is Liana Dillaway.

Sukie & Sue: Their Story begins previews on Saturday, April 21 at 8pm. Previews continue on Sunday, April 22 at 2pm and Tuesday, April 24 through Friday, April 27 at 8pm. Opening night is set for Saturday, April 28 at 8:00. The regular running schedule is Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm through June 3. Admission is $26 for previews, and ranges from $26-$30 for regular performances. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased by visiting www.TheBlank.com, or by calling (323) 661-9827.

The Blank’s 2nd Stage Theatre is located at 6500 Santa Monica Boulevard (at Wilcox), in Hollywood. Secured valet parking is available for evening performances.

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03-20-12

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