NEWS RELEASE — Benefit Performances of “THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES” — Atwater Village Theatre — April 30, May 1, 6, and 7

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
Four Performances Only
April 30 / May 1, 6 & 7

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 on April 30, May 1, 6 & 7 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.

Each evening will feature a different group of performers. Among the long list of luminous actors are (in alphabetical order) Alison Arngrim, Julie Brown, Gabrielle Carteris, Rae Dawn Chong, Anne DeSalvo, Frances Fisher, Geri Jewell, Carolyn Hennesy, Kate Linder, Lee Meriwether, Susan Olsen, Robin Riker, Beverly Sanders, Tracie Thoms, Kirsten Vangsness, Suzanne Whang, Jill Whelan, and Debra Wilson. All appearances are subject to availability.

Director Sheena Metal is now celebrating the 10th anniversary of her involvement with the annual benefit readings of The Vagina Monologues. “It is thrilling 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.”

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 benefit performances of The Vagina Monologues are on Saturday, April 30; Sunday, May 1; Friday, May 6; and Saturday, May 7. Curtain time for all performances is 8pm. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased online at http://vdaylosangeles.com/tickets2016.html or by phone at (818) 437-0886. The Atwater Village Theatre is located at 3269 Casitas Avenue, in Los Angeles, 90039.

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04-25-16

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 — “I♥99 THE MUSICAL!” ENCORE PRESENTATION — TUESDAY, MARCH 24 AT 8PM AT THE DRAGONFLY IN HOLLYWOOD

SIXTH AVENUE PRESENTS
AN ENCORE (PLUS!) EVENT
“ILove99 THE MUSICAL!”
DIRECTED BY DANIEL HENNING
AT THE DRAGONFLY IN HOLLYWOOD
TUESDAY, MARCH 24 AT 8PM

Sixth Avenue has announced an encore of its “ILove99 The Musical!” cabaret event to save Los Angeles intimate theatre. Produced by Adam Silver and directed by Daniel Henning, the curtain will go up once again, featuring returning and additional performers, on Tuesday, March 24 at 8pm at The Dragonfly in Hollywood.

The cast will feature (in alphabetical order) Tisha Terrasini Banker, Burglars of Hamm, Parvesh Cheena, Deborah S. Craig, Frances Fisher, Sandra Mae Frank, Tom Lenk, Kelly Lester, Constance Jewell Lopez, Austin McKenzie, Rebecca Metz, Nicole Parker, Jeff Perry, Amy Pietz, French Stewart, Kirsten Vangsness, and more. All performers are subject to availability.

Of the premiere “ILove99 The Musical!” event on March 10, Paul Birchall of StageRaw.com said, “[This show was] held together and bolstered by love, talent, and passion. It was also a program that crackled with fierce intelligence, with sketches and songs that melded irony, humor, and a smattering of rage, as performers from many of our local stages tried to make sense of a union that seems to want to pull the plug on an entire culture.”

Birchall continued, … “the philosophical core of the show turned on French Stewart’s commonsensical appraisal of Los Angeles small theatre. ‘The theatre is like farming,’ Stewart noted. ‘You don’t get paid for the seeds. You get paid for the fruit.’”

Pro99 is a collection of thousands of individual theatrical artists that have become a community choosing to work in intimate theatres (under 99 seats) in Los Angeles. The community includes professional actors, directors, writers, designers, stage managers, and producers. Many are proud members of Actors Equity Association and most are members of other unions as well. The Pro99 community believes it has the right to perform its crafts in an intimate and non-commercial setting and volunteer its talents in search of creative fulfillment. To learn more: www.ILove99.org.

Admission to “ILove99 The Musical!” is free, but reservations are strongly suggested at www.6avenue.org. The Dragonfly is located at 6510 Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood, 90038.

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03-18-15