Announcing: Cast set for The Blank Theatre Company’s production of The Cradle Will Rock

REX SMITH SET TO HEAD CAST
FOR THE BLANK THEATRE COMPANY’S REVIVAL OF
MARC BLITZSTEIN’S 1937 MUSICAL
THE CRADLE WILL ROCK

COMPLETE CAST ANNOUNCED AND REHEARSALS ARE UNDERWAY
PREVIEWS BEGIN FEBRUARY 5, 2011
AT THE STELLA ADLER THEATRE IN HOLLYWOOD

Casting is complete and rehearsals have begun for The Blank Theatre Company’s third production of its 20th anniversary season, Marc Blitzstein’s The Cradle Will Rock. Directed by The Blank’s Founding Artistic Director Daniel Henning, and featuring musical direction by David O, Cradle will begin preview performances on Saturday, February 5, 2011 and is set to open one week later on Saturday, February 12 at 8pm. The engagement will run through Sunday, March 20.

Along with stage, television, and recording star Rex Smith, the cast (in alphabetical order) is Tiffany Adams, Will Barker, Gigi Bermingham, Christopher Carroll, Rob Roy Cesar, Matthew Patrick Davis, Mikey Hawley, Jim Holdridge, Jack Laufer, Roland Rusinek, Meagan Smith, Lowe Taylor, David Trice, Peter Van Norden, Matt Wolpe, Adam Wylie, and Penelope Yates.

In The Cradle Will Rock, corporations and churches use their influence to shape laws to their favor, unemployment hits new heights, and millions of Americans are losing their homes. Sound like the new millennium? In 1937, Mark Blitzstein’s musical called these issues into question with his scathing satire of greed, corruption and politics in the U.S.A. So scandalous, in fact, was The Cradle Will Rock that the U.S. Government tried to shut it down. But Blitzstein’s humor, music and agitprop parody ruled the day and the public got to hear this terrific, fun, jazzy score. Snappy tunes, wonderful characters and deep questions about our nation will take you on a roller-coaster ride through the American patriotic psyche.

The Blank Theatre Company first presented The Cradle Will Rock in 1994, directed by Henning, and the production received two Ovation Award nominations (Musical in an Intimate Theatre, Director of a Musical), three Drama-Logue Awards (including Production and Director), and the L.A. Weekly Award for Musical of the Year. Philip Brandes of the Los Angeles Times said, “Sophisticated, witty … Henning’s insightful staging and the inspired performances showcase the enduring brilliance of this under-appreciated watershed musical.” And in the L.A. Weekly, Martin Hernandez wrote, “Blitzstein’s fervent, catchy score and earthy humor complement the piece’s revolutionary politics.” A complete recording of the score was released by The Blank in 1995; that recording will be re-released in celebration of this new production and The Blank’s 20th Anniversary.

Preview performances of The Cradle Will Rock are Saturday, February 5 at 8pm, Sunday, February 6 at 2pm, and Tuesday, February 8 – Friday, February 11 at 8pm. Opening night is set for Saturday, February 12 at 8:00. The regular performance schedule is Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm through March 20. All preview seats are $30; regular performance prices are $30 on Thursday and Sunday, $34.99 on Friday and Saturday. Tickets may be purchased by calling (323) 661-9827 or online at www.TheBlank.com. For group sales, call (323) 871-8018.

The Stella Adler Theatre is located at 6773 Hollywood Boulevard (2nd Floor), in Hollywood.  Validated parking ($2) is available at the Hollywood and Highland complex.

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12-16-10

Announcing: David Crosby to Perform at Blank Theatre Benefit

LEGENDARY SINGER-SONGWRITER AND ACTIVIST
DAVID CROSBY
SET TO PERFORM HIS FIRST SOLO SHOW IN 20 YEARS
TO BENEFIT THE BLANK THEATRE COMPANY
MONDAY, DECEMBER 13 AT AVALON HOLLYWOOD

Two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honoree David Crosby (The Byrds; Crosby, Stills & Nash) will give a rare, intimate concert to benefit The Blank Theatre Company, at Avalon Hollywood on Monday December 13, 2010 at 7:30pm. Hosted by The Blank’s Artistic Producer Noah Wyle, the evening will be David Crosby’s first solo Los Angeles performance in 20 years. The evening will feature new unrecorded material and fan favorites.

Said Crosby, “My friend Noah Wyle took me to see a few of The Blank’s shows. I was duly impressed by the quality of production and the daring nature of the work. Supporting The Blank is just one small way that I can help.” Added Wyle, “When David told me he wanted to play a benefit show for us, I was so touched that he felt inclined to respond to our work with his music. It is a rare and humbling honor for our organization.”

Tickets for the concert are priced at $250 (includes premium floor seating and exclusive after-show reception with David Crosby and Noah Wyle), $100, $75 and $50. They can be purchased online at www.TheBlank.com, or by calling (323) 661-9827. The Blank is a 501c3 non-profit arts organization; the ticket price is tax-deductible, Federal Tax ID# 95-4309846. The benefit is being produced by The Blank Theatre Company in conjunction with Black and Tan Entertainment and The Guacamole Fund.

Avalon Hollywood is located at 1735 N. Vine Street, in Hollywood.

About David Crosby

A California native, David Crosby is a legendary guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is also an activist and a philanthropist. In addition to his solo career, he was a founding member of three bands: The Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash (who are joined by Neil Young sometimes), and CPR. Crosby is a two-time member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his work in The Byrds and CSN. Crosby also performs often with his band-mate and dear friend Graham Nash on record and on tour. In 1971, Crosby released his first of four solo albums, If I Could Only Remember My Name, featuring contributions by Nash, Young, and Joni Mitchell, along with members of Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, and Santana. The album was recently named by The Vatican on its top ten list of all-time albums.

Crosby is also a long-time activist supporting a multitude of social issues. His second book entitled Stand and Be Counted chronicles music activism and social awareness. It was also a critically acclaimed two part documentary television film that aired on TLC. Besides his recent induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Crosby was MusiCares, NARAS’ (The Grammys) philanthropic arm, first Person of the Year.

For further information regarding David Crosby, contact Michael Jensen at (626) 676-9590 or via email at info@jensencom.com.

About The Blank Theatre Company

Now in its 20th year, The Blank’s productions have consistently garnered rave reviews, audience acclaim, and numerous theatrical honors. Over the years, The Blank has been nominated for 23 Ovation Awards and won five including Best Musical; 15 L.A. Drama Critics Circle Awards, winning 13 including Outstanding Production; 24 L.A. Weekly Awards, winning seven including Musical of the Year; 12 NAACP Theatre Awards, winning four including Best Production; and won 17 Back Stage Garland Awards. The Blank was awarded the Hollywood Arts Council’s coveted Charlie Award for “pursuing artistic excellence, nurturing the next generation of playwrights, and challenging itself with a grand vision.” The Drama League called The Blank one of the “Best Regional Theatres in America.”

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11-15-10

Announcing: Mike Farrell and Jim Parrack Set to Star in Terre Haute Premiere

MIKE FARRELL AND JIM PARRACK SET TO STAR
IN LOS ANGELES PREMIERE OF EDMUND WHITE’S
TERRE HAUTE

PREVIEWS BEGIN OCTOBER 2, 2010
AT THE BLANK’S 2nd STAGE THEATRE IN HOLLYWOOD

Mike Farrell and Jim Parrack have been set to star in the first production of The Blank Theatre Company’s 20th  anniversary season, the Los Angeles premiere of Terre Haute by Edmund White. Directed by Kirsten Sanderson, Terre Haute will begin preview performances on Saturday, October 2, 2010 and is set to open on Saturday, October 9 at 8pm.  The engagement will run through Sunday, November 14.

Did you know that Timothy McVeigh and Gore Vidal were pen pals? What would their conversations have been like if they had ever met in person? Famed fiction writer Edmund White has imagined just that: four prison house conversations between the nation’s deadliest domestic terrorist and one of the world’s most famous and opinionated gadflies. The names have been changed, the ideas have not. This intimate and fascinating portrait of two men, both firebrands who say and do as they believe, delves deeply into the idea of what it means to be American and what one believes they must do for their country.  Said Charles Isherwood in The New York Times, “White has captured the amusingly constricted voices of the patrician novelist and the plebian terrorist cannily and cogently.”

Mike Farrell is perhaps best known for playing Captain B.J. Hunnicutt on television’s M*A*S*H.  During his eight years on the show, he also wrote and directed several episodes, earning him nominations for Director’s Guild and Emmy Awards.  More recently on television, Mike played veterinarian Jim Hansen on NBC’s Providence with Melina Kanakaredes.  Jim Parrack currently appears in HBO’s True Blood as Hoyt Fortenberry, a role he originated when the series made its debut in 2008.  He has also made guest appearances on Monk, ER, CSI, Grey’s Anatomy, Close to Home, NCIS, and Criminal Minds, among others.

The set design for Terre Haute is by Matt Turner, costume design is by Bethany Jane Bohatila, the lighting design is by Cameron Zetty, and sound design is by Warren Davis.  The production stage manager is Christopher Harrison, and the producers are Noah Wyle, Daniel Henning, and Stacy Reed Payton.

Preview performances of Terre Haute are Saturday, October 2 at 8pm, Sunday, October 3 at 2pm, and Tuesday, October 5 – Friday, October 8 at 8pm.  Opening night is set for Saturday, October 9 at 8:00.  The regular performance schedule is Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm through November 14.  All preview seats are $26; regular performance prices are $26 on Thursday and Sunday, $30 on Friday and Saturday.  Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased by calling (323) 661-9827 or online at www.TheBlank.com.

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

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09-01-10

TO ARRANGE INTERVIEWS WITH MIKE FARRELL, JIM PARRACK OR KIRSTEN SANDERSON, AND/OR TO MAKE PRESS RESERVATIONS,
CLICK HERE OR CALL (323) 845-9781.