Announcing: The Blank Theatre Announces “Valentine Triage,” a New Play by Frank Strausser, Beginning 3/5 for 15 Performances Only

THE BLANK THEATRE PRESENTS
VALENTINE TRIAGE
A NEW PLAY BY FRANK STRAUSSER
DIRECTED BY KIRSTEN SANDERSON

SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT
AT THE BLANK’S 2nd STAGE THEATRE

15 PERFORMANCES ONLY
MARCH 5 – 31

The Blank Theatre (Daniel Henning, Founding Artistic Director) has announced a special engagement of Valentine Triage, a new play by Frank Strausser, directed by Kirsten Sanderson. There will be 15 performances only, March 5 through March 31, at the 2nd Stage Theatre in Hollywood.

People get to a certain age or place in their lives where they’ve collected baggage. They don’t trust. Or they’re just afraid. Eddie and Eva are trying to build a future. Barrett and Melanie only have a past. On one fateful Valentine’s Day, their lives intersect in an emergency room and they will never be the same. Love has its casualties.

Playwright Frank Strausser has written plays, novels and screenplays. Valentine Triage is his first LA production since The Powder Room, which starred Academy Award nominee Sally Kirkland. After a successful run at the Cherry Lane Theatre in New York City, his play Psycho Therapy will move to Theatre Row on 42nd Street in May of 2013. His Edinburgh Festival offering, The Split, is in negotiations to transfer to the United States in the 2013/14 season. Strausser has had various workshops and developmental productions in London, and his novel Plastic is in development as a motion picture. For more info, visit www.frankstrausser.com.

Director Kirsten Sanderson serves as Director of New Play Development for The Blank Theatre. Also, she most recently directed The Blank’s productions of Sukie and Sue: Their Story and Mike Farrell in Dr. Keeling’s Curve. In previous seasons, she directed Terre Haute and Little Fish, among others. The cast of Valentine Triage will feature (in alphabetical order) Lois Atkins, Kyle Bares, Robyn Cohen, David Preston, and Tarina Pouncy. The set design is by Staci Walters, lighting design is by Rebecca Bonebrake, costume design is by David Schifilliti, and sound design is by Warren Davis. The stage manager is Chris Chapin.

There will be special performances of Valentine Triage on Tuesday, March 5, Wednesday, March 6, and Thursday March 7 at 8pm, and the regular schedule will continue on Friday and Saturday at 8pm, and Sunday at 2pm, through March 31 only. All seats are $25, and may be purchased online at www.TheBlank.com, or via phone by calling (323) 661-9827.

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

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02-14-13

Announcing: Special Preview Engagement of Mike Farrell in “Dr. Keeling’s Curve” at The Blank Theatre – 12 Perfs Only

THE BLANK THEATRE PRESENTS
MIKE FARRELL IN
DR. KEELING’S CURVE
BY GEORGE SHEA
DIRECTED BY KIRSTEN SANDERSON

SPECIAL PREVIEW ENGAGEMENT
AT THE BLANK’S 2nd STAGE THEATRE

12 PERFORMANCES ONLY
SEPTEMBER 21 – OCTOBER 14

The Blank Theatre (Daniel Henning, Founding Artistic Director) has announced a special preview engagement of Mike Farrell starring in Dr. Keeling’s Curve by George Shea, directed by Kirsten Sanderson. There will be 12 performances only, September 21 through October 14, at the 2nd Stage Theatre in Hollywood.

Walk into the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. There you will find Darwin’s finches next to the double helix; and beside that, the Keeling Curve … a graph depicting the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide. Its message proclaims the most basic fact of climate change: that carbon dioxide levels have been climbing, and are continuing to rise at an extraordinary and accelerating pace. Mike Farrell plays Dr. Charles David Keeling in this all too real and often funny one man bio-play that makes global warming understandable, and reveals it to be anything but a myth. Dr. Keeling’s Curve was originally developed in The Blank’s Living Room Series.

Mike Farrell is best known for his role as B.J. Hunnicut in the iconic television series M*A*S*H. The two-time Emmy Award nominee also played roles in the popular television series Providence and Desperate Housewives. In 2010, Farrell starred in The Blank Theatre’s acclaimed production of Terre Haute by Edmund White, also directed by Kirsten Sanderson. Set and lighting design for Dr. Keeling’s Curve are by Cameron Zetty, and sound design is by Warren Davis. The stage manager is Sandy Fury.
Dr. Keeling’s Curve will begin performances in Hollywood on Friday, September 21 at the 2nd Stage Theatre, 6500 Santa Monica Boulevard (at Wilcox), and will continue through Sunday, October 14 only. The running schedule is Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00, with Sunday matinees at 2pm. All seats are $25, and may be purchased online at www.TheBlank.com, or via phone by calling (323) 661-9827.

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09-13-12

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

Casting 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