NEWS RELEASE — HWD FRINGE FESTIVAL ‘ENCORE! PRODUCER’S AWARD’ PERFS OF QUEER CLASSICS’ “THE TAMING OF THE SHREW (AN EXPLORATION OF GENDER EXPRESSION)” ADDED SAT 7/18 & SUN 7/19 at 7:30pm

2015 HOLLYWOOD FRINGE FESTIVAL
ENCORE! PRODUCER’S AWARD WINNER

QUEER CLASSICS PRESENTS
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
(An Exploration of Gender Expression)
BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
DIRECTED BY CASEY KRINGLEN

TWO PERFORMANCES ONLY
JULY 18 & 19 AT 7:30PM
THE OTHER SPACE AT THE ACTORS COMPANY

The Queer Classics production of William Shakespeare’s controversial and often polarizing commedia dell’arte comedy The Taming of the Shrew is the winner of a 2015 Hollywood Fringe Festival Encore! Producer’s Award. This unique re-imagined exploration of gender expression in the comedic style of I Love Lucy will play two additional performances on Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19 at 7:30pm.

Conceived and directed by Casey Kringlen, the cast features Shaan Dasani, Ryan Leslie Fisher, Suzanne Fortin, Julie Rei Goldstein, Gordon Meacham, Dawn Medina, and Angel Payne, and from last year’s critically acclaimed production of The Importance of Being Earnest Bobby Gutierrez, Jeffrey Masters, and Philip Orazio. Lighting design is by Dan Weingarten and the stage manager is Amber Bruegel.

In the Queer Classics version of modern times, Kate and Petruchio might identify as trans*, but the 1950s are a completely different world. In this new and sexy adaptation, the lead lovers explore their expression of gender in a time before there were labels to define it.

Queer Classics is dedicated to sharing classic stories re-imagined through a queer lens — art for the LGBTQ community and its supporters. Visit www.queerclassics.com.

Tickets for the Encore! Producer’s Award performances of Queer Classics’ The Taming of the Shrew (An Exploration of Gender Expression) are $15 online and may be obtained at http://www.theencoreawards.com/projects/2349. Admission price at the door is $20. The performance running time is 90 minutes.

The Other Space at The Actors Company is located at 916 N. Formosa Avenue in Los Angeles, 90036. Street parking is available.

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07-10-15

^{L to R — Shaan Dasani & Julie Rei Goldstein. Photo by Casey Kringlen.}

PRESS RELEASE — QUEER CLASSICS’ “THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST” RETURNS FOR 4 WEEKS ONLY — OPENS SAT 10/25

2014 HOLLYWOOD FRINGE FESTIVAL
ENCORE PRODUCER’S AWARD-WINNER!

QUEER CLASSICS PRESENTS
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
BY OSCAR WILDE
DIRECTED BY CASEY KRINGLEN

RETURNS FOR FOUR WEEKS ONLY
OCTOBER 25—NOVEMBER 16
THE LOUNGE THEATRES IN HOLLYWOOD

Winner of a 2014 Hollywood Fringe Festival Encore Producer’s Award, the Queer Classics production of The Importance of Being Earnest is set to return for four weeks only at The Lounge Theatres in Hollywood. There will be one preview on Friday, October 24 at 8pm and opening is set for Saturday, October 25 at 8pm. The limited engagement will run through November 16.

Queer Classics re-imagines one of the most popular comedic plays ever written by presenting the four lovers in the story as dashing gay men. Two couples fight for the right to be engaged in this masterful satire written by Oscar Wilde, arrested in 1895 for “gross indecency with men.” This timeless tale galavants through a world obsessed with appearances, money, and social status. The parallels with today’s Hollywood and American culture make for searing fun, and by presenting the four lovers as gay men, Queer Classics creates a play more hysterically fabulous than Oscar could have imagined possible in his lifetime. Running time is 90 minutes.

“Each of these talented actors mined new meaning into the script, creating more laughter throughout the play than I have ever experienced before,” raves Shari Barrett atBroadwayWorld.com. Rob Stevens of HainesHisWay.com calls the production “… delirious fun,” and  Toby  Jacobs at NeonTommy.com says, “… everyone seems to have a real blast onstage, andit shows in their performances. It is hard to recall a version of Earnest that was quite this much fun.”

Directed by Casey Kringlen, the cast features (in alphabetical order) Grant Jordan, Nancy La Scala, Mason McCulley, Philip Orazio, Boone Platt, and Megan Soule. Lighting design is by Dan Weingarten.

Queer Classics is dedicated to sharing classic stories re-imagined through a queer lens — art for the LGBTQ community and its supporters. The Importance of Being Earnestwill play one preview on Friday, October 24 at 8pm and opening is set for Saturday, October 25 at 8pm. Performances will be on Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 5pm through November 16 only. No performance on Friday, October 31. Tickets are $40 for opening night (includes post-performance reception and meet-and-greet with the artists), and $20 for regular performances. They are available online at www.QueerClassics.com or by phone at (323) 450-7399.

The Lounge Theatres are located at 6201 Santa Monica Boulevard (at El Centro) in Hollywood, 90038.

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09-30-14

PRESS RELEASE: “THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST” WINS HOLLYWOOD FRINGE PRODUCER’S ENCORE AWARD — 3 PERFS ADDED

2014 HOLLYWOOD FRINGE FESTIVAL
PRODUCER’S ENCORE AWARD!

QUEER CLASSICS PRESENTS
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
BY OSCAR WILDE
DIRECTED BY CASEY KRINGLEN

THREE PERFORMANCES ONLY
JULY 12, 13 &14
LET LIVE THEATRE AT THE ACTORS COMPANY

Queer Classics re-imagines one of the most popular comedic plays ever written — Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, by presenting the four lovers in the story as dashing gay men. Winner of a 2014 Hollywood Fringe Festival Producer’s Encore Award, Earnest will play three additional performances only on Saturday, July 12 at 9pm; Sunday, July 13 at 7pm; and Monday, July 14 at 8pm.

Two couples fight for the right to be engaged in this masterful satire written by Oscar Wilde, arrested in 1895 for “gross indecency with men.” This timeless story galavants through a world obsessed with appearances, money and social-status. By presenting the four lovers as gay men, the parallels with today’s Hollywood and American culture make for searing fun. Running time is 90 minutes.

“Each of these talented actors mined new meaning into the script, creating more laughter throughout the play than I have ever experienced before,” raves Shari Barrett at BroadwayWorld.com. Rob Stevens of HainesHisWay.com calls the production “… delirious fun,” and Toby Jacobs at NeonTommy.com says, “… everyone seems to have a real blast onstage, and it shows in their performances. It is hard to recall a version of Earnest that was quite this much fun.”

Directed by Casey Kringlen, the cast features (in alphabetical order) Eric DeLoretta, Jeff Elam, Grant Jordan, Nancy La Scala, Mason McCulley, Philip Orazio, Boone Platt, and Megan Soule. Lighting design is by Dan Weingarten and stage manager is Caitlin Leong.

Queer Classics is dedicated to sharing classic stories re-imagined through a queer lens — art for the LGBTQ community and its supporters. This production of Earnest was part of the City of West Hollywood’s One City One Pride LGBTQ Arts Festival, which this year celebrated marriage equality. For more, visit www.weho.org/pride.

Seats for the Producer’s Encore Award performances of The Importance of Being Earnest are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Tickets may be obtained online at www.hollywoodfringe.org or by phone at (323) 455-4585.

The Let Live Theatre at the Actors Company is located at 916 N. Formosa Avenue in Los Angeles, 90036. Street and lot parking are available.

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06-30-14

Photo 1: L to R — Mason McCulley, Boone Platt.

Photo 2: Front to back — Mason McCulley, Casey Kringlen, Philip Orazio, Boone Platt.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF QUEER CLASSICS.