PRESS RELEASE — BLANK THEATRE OPENS 24TH SEASON WITH “THE WHY” ON SATURDAY 9/20 AT 8PM

THE BLANK THEATRE
PRESENTS
THE WHY
BY VICTOR KAUFOLD
DIRECTED BY DANIEL HENNING

24TH SEASON BEGINS ON SEPTEMBER 16
AT THE BLANK’S 2nd STAGE THEATRE
OPENING SET FOR SATURDAY 9/20 AT 8PM

The Blank Theatre (Daniel Henning, Founding Artistic Director; Noah Wyle, Artistic Producer) has announced that the first production of its 24th season will be The Why by Victor Kaufold, directed by Henning. Previews begin September 16 and opening is set for Saturday, September 20 at 8pm. The engagement will run through October 19.

The Why is a fast-paced tragicomedy — one part modern satire, one part honest investigation. The central story concerns Robert, an American teenager guilty of murdering three of his classmates in a school shooting. Spliced among the dramatic exchanges between Robert and his assigned social worker, a parade of fantastical stereotypes storms in and out, creating a dichotomy between moments of hilarity and sorrow. Confronted by disturbingly accurate exaggerations of the tabloid-like modern media, the audience is made to laugh and then question that laughter.

The cast will feature (in alphabetical order) Ben Crowley, Nicholas Cutro, Jen Landon, and Jeff Witzke. The design team includes Martha Carter (lighting), Sarah Kalb (costumes), and Rebecca Kessin (sound). The stage manager is Samantha Else. Sarah Allyn Bauer serves as producer.

Said Blank Artistic Producer Noah Wyle, “The Why is a truly original take on a very serious and very complex subject: what is happening to the youth of America? Why are kids killing each other? Who or what is to blame? Through blended styles, mixed media, and a constant shifting between drama, farce, satire, and melodrama, The Why seems to offer an answer. Or at least it manages to debunk several popular theories being touted by ‘experts’ in the media. Its continued relevance is frightening.”

Playwright Victor Kaufold was just 19 years old when he wrote The Why, which was a Blank Theatre Young Playwrights Festival winner. Later produced on The Blank’s mainstage, Kaufold received an LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Award nomination for World Premiere Play, the youngest person ever to do so.

Preview performances of The Why begin on Tuesday, September 16 at 8pm, and continue Wednesday, September 17 through Friday, September 19 at 8pm. Opening is set for Saturday, September 20 at 8pm. The regular performance schedule will be Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm through October 19. Admission prices are $25—$30 (student price is $20; must show valid ID), and tickets may be purchased online at www.TheBlank.com or via phone at (323) 661-9827.

The Blank’s 2nd Stage Theatre is located at 6500 Santa Monica Boulevard (at Wilcox), in Hollywood.

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08-13-14

Press Release: Blank Theatre Chooses 2014 Young Playwrights Festival Winners

THE BLANK THEATRE’S 22ND ANNUAL
YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL CHOOSES WINNERS

12 PLAYS BY THE NATION’S BRIGHTEST YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS
WILL BE PERFORMED AT THE STELLA ADLER THEATRE IN HOLLYWOOD

JUNE 5 — 29, 2014

Now celebrating its 22nd Anniversary, The Blank Theatre’s Nationwide Young Playwrights Festival has chosen 12 plays by young playwrights aged 16 — 19, from seven different states. These plays will be presented by professional actors and directors in this year’s festival at The Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood, June 5 — 29.

“Ever since I acted in the first Young Playwrights Festival, I have always had a special place in my heart for these extremely talented young writers,“ said Blank Artistic Producer Noah Wyle. “The issues tackled, and the depth of emotion and understanding these kids have is remarkable. I wish I knew as much as they do when I was their age!”

This year’s winning plays are: NINE HOURS by Zoe Kamil, San Francisco, CA, Age 18; WHAT WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PLANNED PARENTHOOD by Alexa Derman, Westfield, NJ, Age 17; ROCK CANDY by Gabrielle Greenfield, Dallas, TX, Age 19; BAROPHOBIA by Aiyana White, Encino, CA, Age 18; THE SON ALSO RISES by Patric Verrone, Pacific Palisades, CA, Age 18; PAM by Agnes Nguyen, Anaheim, CA, Age 19; PILLOW TALK by Zoe Cheng, Cincinnati, OH, Age 17; INNOCENCE by Matthew Ubl, Jacksonville, FL, Age 18; THE RUB by Max Friedlich, New York, NY, Age 19; FAIREST by Frank Garland, Seattle, WA, Age 16; THE NOT LESBIANS by Travis Amiel, Millwood, NY, Age 18; and BLACK SHEEP by Robert Gold, Valley Village, CA, Age 17.

This year’s winners join a prestigious club of alumni which includes 2012 Pulitzer Prize finalist Stephen Karam, who was a three-time festival winner, and Adam Cochran (a two-time winner in YPF), who was nominated for a Drama Desk Award in NYC for Outstanding Music in a Play in 2011.

A panel of theatre professionals chose from over 200 plays submitted by young writers across the nation. Winning playwrights are next assigned a mentor, and then a professional director who will help them hone their scripts for four public performances with professional actors. This year’s mentors include David Rambo (Revolution, V, CSI), Kelly Miller (South Coast Rep literary manager), Dave Holstein (Weeds, Raising Hope), Todd Milliner (executive producer, Hot in Cleveland, Grimm), Ellen Byron (Just Shoot Me, Wings), Gary Teich (Medium), Michael Jung (Disney), Kit Steinkellner (four-time YPF winner), as well as Bob Lowry, Oahn Ly, and Patrick Burleigh. This year’s directors are (in alphabetical order) Barbara Bain, Andre Barron, Darren Bousman, Nicole Dominguez, Bjorn Johnson, Ameenah Kaplan, Jack Laufer, Michael Matthews, Michael A. Shepperd, Richard Tatum, Jason Weiss, and Constance Zimmer.

Over the past 21 years, The Blank has produced more than 240 plays by young playwrights. Eleven of those plays or playwrights have gone on to be presented on The Blank’s mainstage, including Speech & Debate by Stephen Karam. Additionally, many of the plays have been nominated for LA theatre awards, including an Ovation Award for Best Writing—World Premiere, and an LA Weekly Award for Best One-Act Playwriting. Other alumni playwrights are populating the nation’s theatres and sound stages with their work. Many YPF winners have gone on to successful writing careers creating TV shows, filling regional stages, teaching writing to others, and founding regional Young Playwrights Festivals.

This year’s festival is made possible by The Rosenthal Family Foundation, The Plum Foundation, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, and City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

The Blank Theatre’s 22nd Annual Young Playwrights Festival runs June 5 — 29 at the Stella Adler Theatre, 6773 Hollywood Boulevard, in Hollywood. The performance schedule is Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm. Each week’s program includes three plays, and admission is $20 for adults and $14 for students. Festival passes, which are good for one ticket each week of the festival, are $68 for adults and $48 for students. Tickets may be purchased in advance online at www.TheBlank.com, or via phone by calling (323) 661-9827.

Announcing: ‘Riding the Midnight Express’ Will Benefit The Blank Theatre – 2 Perfs Only – August 5 & 12

THE BLANK THEATRE PRESENTS
RIDING THE MIDNIGHT EXPRESS
WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY BILLY HAYES
DIRECTED BY JOHN GOULD RUBIN

TWO PERFORMANCES ONLY
AUGUST 5 & 12 AT 8PM
AT THE SECOND STAGE THEATRE IN HOLLYWOOD

ALL PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT THE BLANK

The Blank Theatre has announced two benefit performances of Riding the Midnight Express, written and performed by Billy Hayes and directed by John Gould Rubin (with assistant director Zoe Aja Moore). All proceeds will benefit The Blank Theatre and its programs. The performances will take place on Mondays, August 5 and 12 at The Blank’s 2nd Stage Theatre in Hollywood. The curtain will rise at 8pm for both shows.

Riding the Midnight Express is the true story behind the Oscar-winning film Midnight Express, told by the man who lived it. Billy Hayes’ astounding story of survival and endurance, and the tales of Hollywood, happiness and what happened next, are truly unforgettable. Hayes tells of his leap from prison isolation to international notoriety when his worldwide bestselling book about five years in a Turkish prison became an Academy Award-winning film written by Oliver Stone and directed by Alan Parker. Following the two ‘sneak peak’ performances for The Blank, Riding the Midnight Express will have its world premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in late August.

Tickets are $20 and may be purchased online at www.TheBlank.com or via phone at (323) 661-9827. The Blank’s 2nd Stage Theatre is located at 6500 Santa Monica Boulevard (at Wilcox) in Hollywood.

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07-31-13