PRESS RELEASE — “MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH” SET FOR INDUSTRY READING ON MONDAY 10/27 IN NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA

WARP GRAPHICS PRESENTS

MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH
A MUSICAL THRILLER

BOOK AND LYRICS BY WENDY PINI
MUSIC AND ADDITIONAL LYRICS BY GREGORY NABOURS
DIRECTED BY CALVIN REMSBERG

EXCLUSIVE WORLD PREMIERE INDUSTRY READING
SET FOR MONDAY, OCTOBER 27
IN NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA

Warp Graphics has announced a world premiere industry reading of Masque of the Red Death, a musical thriller with book and lyrics by Wendy Pini, music and additional lyrics by Gregory Nabours, and directed by Calvin Remsberg, on Monday, October 27 at 7:30pm at the NoHo Arts Center in North Hollywood, CA.

Epic in sweep and scope, Wendy Pini and Greg Nabours’ musical thriller Masque of the Red Death is based on Pini’s graphic novel of the same name (based on The Mask of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe) which employs a Japanese anime style of art, and this new musical expands on this adaptation. Set in a decadent, perfect future, Anton Prosper uses his vast fortune and scientific genius to seek the ultimate power of life over death. But when the stunning prodigy Steffan Kabala enters Prosper’s life, he unlocks a tempestuous passion that may send the entire planet hurtling into a bloody maelstrom of destruction.

Writer/Artist Wendy Pini has worked for nearly all of the major comics publishers such as Marvel, First Comics, Comico, DC Comics, and Dark Horse Comics. In 1977, she created the best-selling high fantasy comic series Elfquest, the first Japanese anime-influenced graphic novel series to be published in America. Pini’s adults-only graphic novel based on Edgar Allan Poe’s horror story The Mask of the Red Death (1842) serves as the foundation for this new musical thriller.

Gregory Nabours is a composer/lyricist and music director. Musical Direction credits include The Color Purple (2012 Ovation, LADCC, LA Weekly, and NAACP Awards), Thoroughly Modern Millie, Falsettos, Rent, The Wild Party, A New Brain, Spring Awakening, Into the Woods, Assassins, and The Full Monty. Nabours’ song cycle, The Trouble With Words, was awarded the 2011 Ovation Award for Best Music and Lyrics for an Original Musical, as well as Best Musical in the Hollywood Fringe Festival. This November, an evening of his work will be performed and broadcast at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Nabours is a founding member and resident composer of Coeurage Theatre Company.

Calvin Remsberg is known both as an accomplished actor and noted theatre director. His directing credits include the revival of Bare, the LA premiere of Glory Days, Into the Woods starring Anthony Geary, Hello, Dolly! for 3-D Theatricals, Sweeney Todd for Musical Theatre West, the 20th Anniversary production of Sweeney Todd for Reprise!, the West Coast Ensemble production of Sunday in the Park with George, and Interact Theatre Company’s Urinetown. For Musical Theatre Guild, Remsberg has directed Shenandoah, Parade, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Street Scene, Aspects of Love, Titanic, The Most Happy Fella, and Death Takes a Holiday.

The cast will feature (in alphabetical order) Heather Ayers, Benai Boyd, Rich Brunner, Emma Degerstedt, Tawny Dolley, Ben Gibson, Steven Good, Steve B. Green, Paulette Ivory, Ashley Jones, Jeffrey Landman, Tyler Ledon, Jamison Lingle, Jacob Lusk, Marco Ramos, Aaron Scheff, Rebecca Spencer, Zach Spound, and Zach Villa.

The reading will take place on Monday, October 27 at 7:30pm. For more information, contact kenwertherpr@gmail.com. The NoHo Arts Center is located at 11136 Magnolia Boulevard in North Hollywood, CA, 91601.

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10-03-14

Announcing: Becoming Norman

BECOMING NORMAN SET TO OPEN AT NOHO ARTS CENTER
FOR 18 PERFORMANCES ONLY
AUGUST 6 – SEPTEMBER 12

C. Raul Espinoza, It’s in the Cards, and the NoHo Arts Center Ensemble have announced the world premiere of Becoming Norman in North Hollywood. This new solo show with original music, written and performed by Norman P. Dixon, will play one preview performance on Friday, August 6 at 8pm and is set to open at the NoHo Arts Center on Saturday, August 7 at 8pm. The engagement will run through Sunday, September 12 only. Becoming Norman is about opening up to reconnect with long-buried dreams and finding the courage to be yourself no matter what. This is the real-life story of Norman P. Dixon, a gay man who grew up in a conservative Mormon home in Utah and always wanted to be a performer.  The show follows his struggle to accept himself even as he yearns for the love and approval of those around him. Looking back over his life and the stories that made him who he is, Norman finds the courage to stop hiding behind his fears and to finally let his voice be heard.

NORMAN P. DIXON has a BA degree in theatre from Brigham Young University. He returns to the stage after an absence of many years and is a proud member of the NoHo Arts Center Ensemble. Previously, he was a member of the L.A. Repertory Theatre Company and has appeared in such shows as Private Lives, George M!, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, My Fair Lady, Man of La Mancha, Sunday in the Park with George, Hamlet, and Richard III, among others. Norman is also a greeting card designer and started his own business, It’s in the Cards, in 2001. His handmade cards are sold in fine stationery stores throughout southern California. He was featured on HGTV’s Crafters Coast to Coast, where he showed viewers how he makes custom photo albums by hand.

Becoming Norman is directed by Debra De Liso, and musical director (also on the piano) is Steven Applegate. Scenic design is by Lacy Anzelc, the lighting design is by Coby Chasman-Beck, and sound design is by A.J. Nowak, who also serves as production stage manager. Teal Sherer is the associate producer.

The running schedule is as follows: there will be one preview performance on Friday, August 6 at 8pm and opening is set for Saturday, August 7 at 8pm. THE MEDIA IS INVITED TO ATTEND OPENING NIGHT ON 8/7, BUT IS ALSO WELCOME AT ANY OTHER PERFORMANCE AFTER THAT DATE. The regular performance schedule is Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 3pm. The engagement ends on Sunday, September 12.

Admission prices are $20 on Friday evenings and $30 for Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees. There will be a ‘Pay What You Can’ performance on Friday, August 20. Tickets are available by visiting www.BecomingNorman.com or calling (800) 595-4849. Group rates can be obtained by phoning (323) 786-0823. The NoHo Arts Center is located at 11136 Magnolia Boulevard in North Hollywood.

PRODUCER BIOS
C. RAUL ESPINOZA is a theatrical marketing consultant and producer. He recently worked on the Los Angeles run of the first national tour of the Tony Award-winning musical In the Heights at the Pantages Theatre. He spent seven years as Audience Development Manager at Center Theatre Group (Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, Kirk Douglas Theatre). Raul has been marketing consultant for various other theatre productions throughout the Los Angeles area from Culture Clash to events at the Ford Amphitheatre. He is an Associate Artist of Interact Theatre Company as well as a company member of the NoHo Arts Center Ensemble, and he also sits on its Board of Directors.

THE NOHO ARTS CENTER and THE NOHO ARTS CENTER ENSEMBLE (formerly Open At The Top Productions) were created in 2004, when theatre veterans James J. Mellon and Kevin Bailey purchased the American Renegade Theatre. Following extensive renovations, the newly christened NoHo Arts Center opened its doors in September of 2004. The Center’s resident company — the multiple award-winning NoHo Arts Center Ensemble (NoHo ACE) — is comprised of actors, directors and writers, galvanized into a passionate ensemble that creates new plays and musicals, adopting as their vision statement “Theatre for Its Own Sake.”  Critically acclaimed and award-winning productions include Dorian, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Angels in America, Elizabeth Rex, Bush Is Bad, Palace of the End, and Yo Ho Ho! A Pirate’s Christmas, among others.

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07-14-10