Archived entries for Jeff Witzke

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

The Book of Liz -  ReunionHollywood’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

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 OPENS 24TH SEASON WITH “THE WHY” ON SATURDAY 9/20 AT 8PM

THE BLANK THEATRE
PRESENTS
THE WHY
BY VICTOR KAUFOLD
DIRECTED BY DANIEL HENNING

24TH SEASON BEGINS ON SEPTEMBER 16
AT THE BLANK’S 2nd STAGE THEATRE
OPENING SET FOR SATURDAY 9/20 AT 8PM

The Why - Blast BannerThe Blank Theatre (Daniel Henning, Founding Artistic Director; Noah Wyle, Artistic Producer) has announced that the first production of its 24th season will be The Why by Victor Kaufold, directed by Henning. Previews begin September 16 and opening is set for Saturday, September 20 at 8pm. The engagement will run through October 19.

The Why is a fast-paced tragicomedy — one part modern satire, one part honest investigation. The central story concerns Robert, an American teenager guilty of murdering three of his classmates in a school shooting. Spliced among the dramatic exchanges between Robert and his assigned social worker, a parade of fantastical stereotypes storms in and out, creating a dichotomy between moments of hilarity and sorrow. Confronted by disturbingly accurate exaggerations of the tabloid-like modern media, the audience is made to laugh and then question that laughter.

The cast will feature (in alphabetical order) Ben Crowley, Nicholas Cutro, Jen Landon, and Jeff Witzke. The design team includes Martha Carter (lighting), Sarah Kalb (costumes), and Rebecca Kessin (sound). The stage manager is Samantha Else. Sarah Allyn Bauer serves as producer.

Said Blank Artistic Producer Noah Wyle, “The Why is a truly original take on a very serious and very complex subject: what is happening to the youth of America? Why are kids killing each other? Who or what is to blame? Through blended styles, mixed media, and a constant shifting between drama, farce, satire, and melodrama, The Why seems to offer an answer. Or at least it manages to debunk several popular theories being touted by ‘experts’ in the media. Its continued relevance is frightening.”

Playwright Victor Kaufold was just 19 years old when he wrote The Why, which was a Blank Theatre Young Playwrights Festival winner. 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.

Preview performances of The Why begin on Tuesday, September 16 at 8pm, and continue Wednesday, September 17 through Friday, September 19 at 8pm. Opening is set for Saturday, September 20 at 8pm. The regular performance schedule will be Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm through October 19. Admission prices are $25—$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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08-13-14