Announcing: Elephant Theatre Company Announces 2013 Season

ELEPHANT THEATRE COMPANY
ANNOUNCES 2013 SEASON

CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED, AWARD-WINNING COMPANY
SET TO PRESENT LOS ANGELES PREMIERE OF
“THE NORTH PLAN” BY JASON WELLS,
WORLD PREMIERE OF “REVELATION”
BY SAMUEL BRETT WILLIAMS,
AND TWO PLAYS IN REPERTORY BY TIMOTHY McNEIL:
A NEW PRODUCTION OF “ANYTHING” AND THE WORLD PREMIERE OF “THE TWILIGHT OF SCHLOMO”

The much lauded Elephant Theatre Company, David Fofi and Lindsay Allbaugh, Co-Artistic Directors, has announced its 16th season, which will kick off on April 26 with the Los Angeles premiere of The North Plan by Jason Wells, followed by the world premiere of Revelation by Samuel Brett Williams, and concluding with two plays in repertory by Timothy McNeil, a new production of Anything and the world premiere of The Twilight of Schlomo.

In The North Plan, a ruthless splinter group seizes power in Washington, and a state bureaucrat steals the new regime’s top secret Enemies List. He then ends up in a small Ozark police station with a diverse group of colorful locals. The North Plan is a sharp, dark, dystopian comedy set in the here and now. Directed by David Fofi, this Los Angeles premiere opens April 26 and runs through June 2 at the Elephant Space. Playwright Jason Wells is a winner of the ATCA M. Elizabeth Osborn Award, and has been a finalist for the American Theatre Critics Association Steinberg/New Play Award. His other plays include Men of Tortuga and Perfect Mendacity. The North Plan debuted at Steppenwolf’s First Look in Chicago in 2010, and had its official world premiere at Portland Center Stage in Oregon.

Up next is the world premiere of Revelation by Samuel Brett Williams. Revelation tells the tale of Brandon, whose family always taught him to be prepared for the Rapture. When people begin disappearing and the Hudson River turns to blood, Brandon and his friend Rebecca head from New York to Arkadelphia, Arkansas, in hope of finding the New Jerusalem. The play explores faith, love, and the American landscape in this pitch black comedy about the End of Days. Directed by Lindsay Allbaugh, Revelation opens July 19 and runs through August 25 at the Lillian Theatre. Samuel Brett Williams is a winner of the Helen Merrill Emerging Playwright Award. His other plays include The Revival, The Woodpecker, and Derby Day. Williams’ plays have been developed and/or produced in such prestigious venues as the Eugene O’Neill Playwrights Conference, New York Theatre Workshop, Naked Angels, The Kennedy Center, Yale University, Actors Theatre of Louisville, and more.

Closing out the 2013 season will be two plays in repertory by Timothy McNeil. A new production of Anything and the world premiere of The Twilight of Schlomo feature residents living in the same apartment building in Hollywood. In Anything, Early is a widower from Mississippi, and Frieda is the abused, transgendered, prostitute-thief-junkie next door. Their unlikely friendship is a tale of second chances, salvation, and a gentle reminder that love exists in infinite varieties. A not-so-classic love story about two truly unique human beings, Anything had its world premiere at the Elephant in 2008, receiving four Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award nominations, winning three, including Best Play. It was also nominated by GLAAD as best production of the year. In The Twilight of Schlomo, former stand-up comic Richard faces a deep mid-life crisis, wrestling with his own personal truths as his troubled past catches up with him. The play explores how our simplest choices sometimes have far-reaching effects for those around us, and how redemption might never be too far away. With these two productions, the Elephant continues its longstanding relationship with Timothy McNeil, a company member who has written over 20 plays. In addition to Anything, the company also produced his plays Supernova and Los Muertos, and other productions of his plays in Los Angeles include Margaret, Crane, Mississippi, and most recently, the acclaimed Machu Picchu, Texas. Anything and The Twilight of Schlomo will run in rep from November 1 through December 15 at the Lillian Theatre.

Tickets for the Elephant Theatre Company’s 2013 Season are currently available by subscription only, and may be purchased online at www.ElephantTheatre.org, or via phone at (855) NO-FORGET [663-6743]. The Elephant Space is located at 6322 Santa Monica Boulevard and the Lillian Theatre is located at 1076 Lillian Way (off Santa Monica Boulevard, just west of Vine), both in Hollywood.

The Elephant Theatre Company now returns from their 2012 producing hiatus, during which time they successfully addressed many of their goals to secure the company’s stability and ensure longevity. New to the organization are Producing Director Greg Borrud, and Managing Director Rick Bernstein. Two fundraising events were held; Poker Royale (which will now be held annually), and the annual Season Launch Gala, which set a new record by netting $16,000 for Elephant operating expenses. Artistically, two new programs were started. The Trunk Show is a monthly storytelling event that brings together Elephant company members with non-members, to share stories on a common theme. Elephants in the Room is a year-long playwriting workshop, which culminates with new, finished works.

For more information on the Elephant Theatre Company, visit www.ElephantTheatre.org. Visit the Elephant on Facebook, and follow us on twitter @elephanttheatre.

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02-26-13

Announcing: Elephant Theatre Company Announces ‘Poker Royale’ Benefit – Saturday 8/18 at 6pm

ELEPHANT THEATRE COMPANY
ANNOUNCES POKER ROYALE BENEFIT
ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 18
★ FIRST ANNUAL TEXAS HOLD ‘EM TOURNAMENT ★

The award-winning Elephant Theatre Company, David Fofi and Lindsay Allbaugh, Artistic Directors, has announced its first annual Poker Royale benefit. The Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament will be held on Saturday, August 18, beginning at 6pm. All proceeds will go toward shows in the highly anticipated 2013 season of the critically acclaimed company.

Poker Royale will be a star-studded night of Texas Hold ‘Em Poker, Blackjack, raffles, food, drink, and surprise celebrity guests. The tournament will be a World Series of Poker style event, coordinated by West LA Poker, and valuable prizes for top winners include gift cards valued at hundreds of dollars, tickets to various shows, restaurant gift cards, and much more. Food at the event will be provided by Big Wangs, beer provided by Black Star, and cocktails by Karma Tequila and Devotion Vodka.

The Elephant Theatre Company is a staple of the Los Angeles theatre community. Known for developing and producing new work, the company has been named three years in a row by Back Stage as ‘Favorite Theatre Company to See and Work With,’ as well as receiving multiple Ovation, LADCC, and LA Weekly Award nominations and wins. Last season’s west coast premiere of Kate Fodor’s 100 Saints You Should Know was nominated for four LA Weekly Awards, winning Best Supporting Female Performance (Kate Huffman), and was also nominated for one LADCC Award. The Elephant concluded its very successful 15th season in December 2011, with the world premiere play Love Sick by Kristina Poe, and the rarely produced Baby Doll by Tennessee Williams, both of which had extended, sold-out runs.

The doors for Poker Royale will open at 6pm on Saturday, August 18. Poker lessons begin at 6:30pm, and the tournament starts promptly at 7pm. (Players can enter the tournament up to 8pm.) Tickets are $80, including poker tournament entry and all you can eat and drink. Spectator tickets are available for $25, which include Fun-Play Blackjack along with food and drink. Admission prices will be $10 higher at the door. Tickets are available now at www.ElephantTheatreCompany.com. For information on sponsorship opportunities, email rick@elephanttheatre.org.

Poker Royale will take place at 6314 Santa Monica Boulevard (one block west of Vine), two doors down from the Elephant Theatre. Valet parking will be available. Visit the Elephant on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter @elephanttheatre.

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07-31-12

Announcing: Elephant Theatre Company Announces Planning Initiative for 2012 Season

CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED, AWARD-WINNING
ELEPHANT THEATRE COMPANY
ANNOUNCES PLANNING INITIATIVE FOR 2012 SEASON

Elephant Theatre Company Artistic Directors David Fofi and Lindsay Allbaugh have announced that the company will be taking one year off (the 2012 season) from mounting productions, with the intention of using the year to strengthen the company, and restructure the management and membership, as well as the Board of Directors. The Elephant also plans to hire a Managing Director, and to focus on the development of sustainable fundraising initiatives.

Said Allbaugh, “Although this is a very difficult decision, it is a necessary one for the future and health of our company. There is no doubt that we can produce a high quality show with our ensemble of award-winning actors, designers, and playwrights. However, it has become very clear to us that over the past couple of seasons that in order to achieve greater stability in this economy, and to rise to the next level, it takes more than ‘putting on a great show.’ Our administrative capacity, our fundraising initiatives, and even our developmental programming is often neglected due to the immediate production needs and deadlines. In this upcoming year we will strengthen the core of our company and our mission, we will focus on creating a strategic plan which will support our artistic endeavors, and we will continue to develop new work with our ensemble.”

The Elephant Theatre Company, now entering its 16th season, is a staple of the Los Angeles theatre community. Known for developing and producing new work, the company has been named three years in a row by Back Stage as ‘Favorite Theatre Company to See and Work With,’ as well as receiving multiple Ovation, LADCC, and LA Weekly award nominations and wins. Last season’s west coast premiere of Kate Fodor’s 100 Saints You Should Know is currently nominated for four LA Weekly Awards, and one LADCC Award. The Elephant concluded its very successful 15th season with the world premiere play Love Sick by Kristina Poe, and the rarely produced Baby Doll by Tennessee Williams, both of which had extended, sold out runs.

Hollywood’s Elephant Theatre Company will return in early 2013 with an exciting new season of plays. A job description for the position of Managing Director will be posted in March. For more information, visit www.elephanttheatrecompany.com. Visit the Elephant on Facebook, and follow us on twitter @elephanttheatre.

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02-28-12