Announcing: The Blank Theatre Presents “20 Years of Winners,” A Benefit for The Young Playwrights Festival

THE BLANK THEATRE PRESENTS
20 YEARS OF WINNERS
SCENES, SONGS, AND SPEECHES FROM 20 YEARS
OF THE YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL
ONE NIGHT ONLY: SUNDAY, JUNE 3 AT 6PM

Benefiting The Blank Theatre, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit arts organization, honorary host Jennifer Garner will welcome (in alphabetical order) Ed Asner, Barbara Bain, Nicholas Brendon, Brianna Brown, Gordon Clapp, Dale Dickey, Daisy Eagan, Thea Gill, Peri Gilpin, Gale Harold, Lenny Jacobson, Michael E. Knight, Tom Lenk, Scott Lowell, Allison Mack, Virginia Madsen, Angel Parker, Rex Smith, Jennifer Stone, DB Sweeney, Kirsten Vangsness, Gedde Watanabe, Virginia Williams, and Noah Wyle as they perform scenes, songs, and speeches from 20 years of The Blank’s Young Playwrights Festival. Artists subject to change. This one night only event will take place on Sunday, June 3, 2012 at 6pm, at Avalon Hollywood.

About The Blank Theatre
Started in 1990 by Founding Artistic Director Daniel Henning, The Blank Theatre is Hollywood’s regional theatre, consistently offering some of the most high quality and entertaining productions in the area. In its 21-year history, The Blank has won hundreds of awards including every major award in Los Angeles for Outstanding Production, such as the LA Drama Critics Circle, Ovation, LA Weekly, NAACP, and Back Stage Garland awards. The Blank has been at the forefront of providing high quality productions with a risk-taking sensibility and entertaining experiences. The Blank Theatre is committed to developing excellence in artistic talent, and providing the opportunity for artists to take bold risks. For more information, please visit www.TheBlank.com.

BENEFIT PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

DATE/TIME:  Sunday, June 3, at 6pm

ADMISSION:  $50 – $125. VIP packages available for $250-$350 (includes post-performance reception with the cast).

TICKETS:        Online at www.TheBlank.com or by calling (323) 661-9827.

LOCATION:    Avalon Hollywood, 1735 Vine Street, Hollywood, 90028.

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05-08-12

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

Release: Stars of “Defenders,” “Modern Family,” “Dexter,” and More to Act in the Blank Theatre Company’s Young Playwrights Festival

STARS OF THE DEFENDERS, MODERN FAMILY,
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, GENERAL HOSPITAL,
DEXTER, AND NURSE JACKIE
SET TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BLANK THEATRE COMPANY’S
19TH ANNUAL YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL

Jerry O’Connell (The Defenders, Crossing Jordan), Jennifer Stone (Wizards of Waverly Place, Harriet the Spy), Lenny Jacobson (Nurse Jackie), Ariel Winter (Modern Family), Michael J. Willett (United States of Tara), Scott Lowell (Queer as Folk), and Larry Poindexter (The Hard Times of RJ Berger on MTV) will join soap opera stars Billy Miller and Greg Rikaart (The Young and The Restless), and Megan Ward (General Hospital) in The Blank Theatre Company’s 19th Annual Young Playwrights Festival. Twelve winning plays by teen playwrights aged 15 -19, from five different states, will be presented during this year’s festival at The Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood, running from June 2 – 26, 2011.

Among the 70 actors who will appear in this year’s festival, WEEK ONE (June 2-5) will feature Larry Poindexter and Greg Rikaart, along with Gale Harold (Hellcats, Queer As Folk, Desperate Housewives), and Susan Park (The Unusuals). WEEK TWO (June 9 –12) will feature Jennifer Stone, Megan Ward, and Ariel Winter, along with Dale Dickey (My Name Is Earl, Breaking Bad). WEEK THREE (June 16—19) will feature Lenny Jacobson and Jerry O’Connell, along with Julia Campbell (Dexter), Scott Lowell (Queer As Folk), Eric Nenninger (Generation Kill, Glory Days), and Marcia Wallace (The Simpsons). WEEK FOUR (June 23—26) will feature Billy Miller, along with Parvesh Cheena (Outsourced), and Tessa Thompson (Detroit 1-8-7).

Winners were chosen by a panel of theatre professionals from plays submitted by teenagers from across the nation. Winning playwrights were next assigned a mentor and then a professional director who has helped them hone their scripts for four public performances. In the past 17 years, The Blank has produced 196 plays by teenaged playwrights. Eleven of those plays or playwrights have gone on to be presented on The Blank’s mainstage, including Speech & Debate by Stephen Karam, a three-time winner in The Blank’s YPF. Additionally, many past plays have been nominated for LA theatre awards, including an Ovation Award for Best Writing—World Premiere, and a LA Weekly Award for Best One-Act Playwriting.

The Blank Theatre Company’s 19th Annual Young Playwrights Festival plays Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm, beginning June 2 and running through June 26 at The Stella Adler Theatre, 6773 Hollywood Boulevard, in Hollywood. Each week’s program includes three plays. Tickets are $17 for adults and $12 for students. Festival Passes, which include one ticket for each week, are $56. Tickets may be purchased online at www.TheBlank.com, or by calling (323) 661-9827.

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05-27-11