Announcing: Blank Theatre Presents Fourth Annual Production of “The Santaland Diaries” – Previews Begin Fri 11/16

THE BLANK THEATRE PRODUCTION OF “THE SANTALAND DIARIES”
RETURNS TO THE STELLA ADLER THEATRE
STARRING PAOLO ANDINO
DIRECTED BY MICHAEL MATTHEWS
PERFORMANCES BEGIN NOVEMBER 16
OPENING NIGHT SET FOR SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24 AT 8:00

The Blank Theatre’s annual holiday production of “The Santaland Diaries” by David Sedaris, now in its fourth year, will again star Paolo Andino and be directed by Michael Matthews. “Santaland” begins preview performances on Friday, November 16, and opening night is set for Saturday, November 24 at 8:00 at the Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood.

“The Santaland Diaries” is an outrageously funny solo play by NPR’s well-loved humorist David Sedaris, about his experiences as an unemployed writer who takes a job as a Christmas elf at Macy’s in New York City. At first, the job is simply humiliating, but once thousands of visitors start pouring through Santa’s workshop, David (or, as his alter ego is known, Crumpet the Elf) becomes battle weary and bitter, occasionally taking out his frustrations on the parents and children alike.

Paolo Andino is best known for his two seasons on LOGO’s “Big Gay Sketch Show.” Film: “Fatties,” “Pink & Green,” “Choking Man.” TV: “Law & Order,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “Ed,” “Army Wives.” Stage: “Pieces,” “Anna in the Tropics,” “The 39 Steps,” “The Food Chain,” and “Waiting for Godot.”

Michael Matthews recently directed the intimate theatre premiere of “The Color Purple, The Musical” which is nominated for 13 Ovation Awards, including Best Director of a Musical. Also from this past season, his production of “What’s Wrong With Angry?” is Ovation Award-nominated, including Best Director of a Play. Matthews is the winner of two 2011 NAACP image Awards for his direction of “The Women of Brewster Place” and “Take Me Out,” both at Celebration Theatre. He directed The Blank’s productions of “The Jazz Age” and “The Temperamentals.” Others include “Haram! Iran!,” “Three Tall Women,” “Stupid Kids,” “Beautiful Thing,” and, most recently, the critically acclaimed and Ovation Recommended world premiere production of “Justin Love” at Celebration Theatre. Matthews also served as assistant director on “Dead End” at the Ahmanson Theatre and “The Cherry Orchard” at the Mark Taper Forum.

For those who like a little spice with their Christmas sugar, this tale of mass marketing, stressed out sales clerks, drunk Santas, screaming kids and the general insanity of the holidays is hilarious, witty, sardonic and unpredictable; mercilessly cutting through the Christmas spirit to point out what crazy things we do as human beings during the holidays.

The set design for “The Santaland Diaries” is by Sean Vasquez, lighting design is by Tim Swiss, costume design is by Michael Mullen, and sound design is by Warren Davis. The stage manager is Sarah A. Bauer, and the show is being produced for The Blank Theatre by Daniel Henning, Matthew Graber, and Noah Wyle.

Preview performances begin Friday, November 16 at 8pm, and continue on Saturday, November 17 at 8pm, Sunday, November 18 at 2pm, Tuesday, November 20 at 8pm, and Friday, November 23 at 8pm. Opening night is set for Saturday, November 24 at 8:00. There will be no performance on Sunday, November 25. The regular running schedule is Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm through December 16 only. All tickets are $30, and may be purchased by visiting www.TheBlank.com or by calling (323) 661-9827. The Stella Adler Theatre is located at 6773 Hollywood Boulevard, on the corner of Hollywood and Highland.

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10-23-12

Announcing: Brimmer Street Theatre Company Presents World Premiere of “All Your Hard Work” by Miles Brandman – Opens July 21

BRIMMER STREET THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS
THE WORLD PREMIERE OF
ALL YOUR HARD WORK BY MILES BRANDMAN
DIRECTED BY MICHAEL MATTHEWS

OPENS JULY 21 AT THE LILLIAN THEATRE

Brimmer Street Theatre Company has announced it will present the world premiere of All Your Hard Work by Miles Brandman, directed by Michael Matthews, at the Lillian Theatre in Hollywood, with performances beginning on Thursday, July 19. Opening night is set for Saturday, July 21 at 8:00. All Your Hard Work will play a strictly limited engagement through August 25.

In All Your Hard Work, Mary-Ellen reconnects with Jim, a college boyfriend in town on business, and they end up back at her apartment. When Jim asks for a potentially dangerous favor, Mary-Ellen is forced to choose between her old affections and a long-simmering need for revenge. Playwright Miles Brandman is a writer and director for film and theatre. In the fall of 2010, Brimmer Street Theatre Company produced the world premiere of his play Summer in Hell at studio|stage in Hollywood. Brandman also wrote and directed the independent feature film Sex and Breakfast starring Macaulay Culkin and Eliza Dushku. His other plays produced in Los Angeles include Ladies of the State at Working Stage in Hollywood, and An Old Problem at Casa 0101 in Boyle Heights.

The cast will feature (in alphabetical order) Amy K. Harmon and Michael Grant Terry. Amy K. Harmon is a founding member of Brimmer Street Theatre Company. She can be seen this fall co-starring on the new FOX comedy Knights of Glory.  Past BSTC credits include Summer in Hell, <3, Leiris/Picasso, and Flower to Flower. Other TV credits include Scandal (ABC), Kings by Night (Comedy Central), Private Practice (ABC), The West Wing (NBC), and American Splendor. Michael Grant Terry is perhaps best known for his recurring role as Wendell Bray on the FOX television series Bones. His LA stage credits include Lobster Alice as well as many appearances in the Young Playwrights Festival at The Blank Theatre, and Stupid Kids at Celebration Theatre. Michael’s other TV credits include The Closer, CSI, Criminal Minds, and Castle.

Director Michael Matthews most recently helmed the smash hit production of The Color Purple for Celebration Theatre, as well as the West Coast premiere of Steve Yockey’s Very Still and Hard to See at The Production Company. Matthews is the winner of two 2011 NAACP Image Awards for his direction of The Women of Brewster Place and Take Me Out, both at Celebration Theatre. For The Blank Theatre, he has directed The Jazz Age, The Temperamentals, and The Santaland Diaries. Matthews also served as assistant director on Dead End at the Ahmanson Theatre and The Cherry Orchard (starring Annette Bening and Alfred Molina) at the Mark Taper Forum.

The set design for All Your Hard Work is by Stephen Gifford, lighting design is by Tim Swiss, costume design is by Christian Svenson, sound design is by Cricket Myers, Rebecca Eisenberg is stage manager, and All Your Hard Work is being co-produced for Brimmer Street Theatre Company by Ken Werther and Michael Bulger. The play was developed as part of the 2011 Brimmer Street ‘Blueprint Series,’ and is a guest production at the Lillian Theatre.

Brimmer Street Theatre Company creates and produces new works of theatre to cultivate artists and engage audiences in Los Angeles. By working from a select core of talented artists, the company is able to produce a unique brand of American theatre that is rooted in our common experience and driven by our commitment to building better theatre that is challenging, extraordinary, and inspiring. For more, visit www.BrimmerStreet.org.

There will be two lower-priced preview performances of All Your Hard Work on Thursday, July 19 and Friday, July 20 at 8pm, and opening night is set for Saturday, July 21 at 8:00. The regular performance schedule will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm through August 25 only. All seats for regular performances are $20 (previews are $15). To purchase tickets, visit www.BrimmerStreet.org or call (213) 290-2782. The Lillian Theatre is located at 1076 N. Lillian Way (one block west of Vine, just off Santa Monica Boulevard), in Hollywood, 90038. Street parking is available.

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06-25-12

Announcing: Listing Info & Play Descriptions – The Blank Theatre’s 20th Annual Young Playwrights Festival

THE BLANK THEATRE
20TH ANNUAL YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL

Professional actors and directors present 12 winning plays by young playwrights from across the nation during this prestigious four-week festival. Each week is a different evening of three plays. For complete list of plays and performance dates, see schedule below.

DATES:  May 31 – June 24

TIMES:  Thurs/Fri/Sat at 8pm; Sun at 2pm

ADMISSION:  Adults $20 Students $14.  Festival Pass (one seat each week) $64

TICKET INFO:  Available online at www.TheBlank.com, or by calling (323) 661-9827.

LOCATION:  The Stella Adler Theatre, 6773 Hollywood Boulevard (at Highland), in Hollywood.

WEEK ONE May 31 – June 3

COFFEE TALK
By Spencer Emerson Opal-Levine (age 9), Sarasota, FL
What do you want to become? Do you have to follow the rules? The denizens of a local Starbucks ask these same questions, but the answers are not what you expect.
Mentor – Ellen Byron
Director – David Shine

THE GRANT PROPOSAL
By Nick Mecikalski (age 18), Madison, AL
In the too-near future, your productivity is very closely watched and charted. This family struggles with what one must do when Grandpa is no longer “useful.”
Mentor – Mark Saltzman
Director – James Kerwin

PRINCESS
By Kate Herzlin (age 19), Rockville Centre, NY
Princess has been sheltered her whole life, as if raised in a fairy tale.  But what should she do if a dream life isn’t her dream?  Can she ever find her true self or must she live everyone else’s version of happily ever after?”
Mentor – Brighde Mullins
Director – April Webster

WEEK TWO June 7 – 10

THE INDEX
By Zachary Weaver (age 15), Overland Park, KS
What if they kept a list of your life accomplishments? What would be in your Index? Maybe you haven’t done anything noteworthy. Does that make you not worthy?
Mentor – Patrick Burleigh
Director – Trevor Bishop

SCRAPBOOK
By Brendan Blaber (age 17), Indian Head Park, IL
The last day at Camp Itchyknee seems like the end of the world. And when you are 12 years old, it just may be. Especially if you haven’t been able to tell the cute girl how much you like her yet.
Mentor – David Rambo
Director – J. Richey Nash

THE ART OF LOSING
By Nicole Acton (age 18), Interlochen, MI
Family matters. It is important to give of yourself to help those that have always helped you. But how much can one give? And for how long? And at what cost?
Mentor – Christopher Kyle
Director – Loni Peristere

WEEK THREE June 14 – 17

DAMMIT!
By David Agronin (age 17), Owings Mills, MD
Len needs to apologize to his girlfriend but she’s not picking up her phone, so he leaves a message.  And then another. And then another. Can he stop digging this terrible hole for himself and ever get back in her arms?
Mentor – Austin Winsberg
Director – Matt Graber

OTHER PEOPLE’S ORGANS
By Paige Roth (age 18), San Antonio, TX
Getting Mom’s attention is never easy, especially when she is so self-obsessed. But Carlton needs more that just that from her mother: she needs to know what really happened to her father.
Mentor – Robert L. Freedman
Director – Ameenah Kaplan

ARC
By Elana Zeltser (age 16), Sherman Oaks, CA
Kacey doesn’t get why she needs to write a paper on Joan of Arc. What could this girl from a million years ago have to do with her? She just might find out, when Joan in her jail cell appears in Kacey’s bedroom.
Mentor – Kelly Miller
Director – Barbara Bain

WEEK FOUR June 21 – 24

BEAR IN MIND
By Emma Steinkellner (age 17), Santa Barbara, CA
Sometimes having a conscience can be a real bear. In Annie’s case it is literally a large British bear who wants her to become respectable. So naturally, she tries to get rid of him.
Mentor – Gary Tieche
Director – Jeff Maynard

ONE PLUS ONE IS FOUR
By Rachel Kaly (age 16), Forest Hills, NY
When a meteor is hurtling it way to earth, about to destroy all in half an hour, is it too late to look for love?
Mentor – Dave Holstein
Director – Warren Davis

THE CARDIOLUTHIER
By Dylan Zwickel (age 19), Manhattan Beach, CA
When your violin strings break, you see a Luthier to get them fixed. But where do you go when you break your heart strings?
Mentor – John Cariani
Director – Michael Matthews

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05-15-12