Archived entries for The Blank Theatre

NEWS RELEASE ✰ THE BLANK THEATRE ACCEPTING SCRIPTS THRU JULY 30 FOR 2018–19 LIVING ROOM SERIES

THE BLANK THEATRE ACCEPTING SCRIPTS THRU JULY 30
FOR 2018–2019 LIVING ROOM SERIES

The Blank Theatre in Hollywood is now accepting script submissions through July 30 for its 2018–2019 Living Room Series, which will begin in September.

The Living Room Series (LRS) is a New Play Development program which embodies The Blank’s commitment to developing new work by both established and emerging writers. Submissions by women, playwrights of color, and other under-represented voices are strongly encouraged. The Blank is firmly committed to supporting gender parity and diversity. The LRS takes place on Monday evenings between Labor Day and Memorial Day at The Blank’s 2nd Stage Theatre. This program offers a week-long collaborative rehearsal process during which the playwright, director, and actors can explore and refine the play before presenting it to an audience. The performances are minimally staged with actors carrying scripts and are a wonderful opportunity for the playwright to get a sense of the play’s full potential. Guidelines and submission requirements are available at http://www.theblank.com/livingroomseries/.

The LRS has developed over 600 new plays. Many have later received productions at venues including Manhattan Theatre Club, Transport Group, Laguna Playhouse, Malibu Playhouse, The Colony Theatre, Primary Stages, Vineyard Theatre, LaMaMa ETC, and Brideswell Theatre in London. In 2014 The Explorer’s Club by Nell Benjamin (twice developed in the LRS) was produced by Manhattan Theatre Club where it won the NY Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off Broadway Play.

Fifteen plays from the Living Room Series have received mainstage productions at The Blank, including Heads by EM Lewis which won the 2008 Francesca Primus Prize and has had subsequent productions at Theater For A New City and other regional venues. The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle (LADCC) recently awarded Aliza Goldstein its 2016 Ted Schmitt Award for World Premiere of an Outstanding New Play to A Singular They, which was first developed in The Blank’s LRS and received its world premiere on the mainstage in the spring of 2016. The production was nominated for seven StageRaw awards, including Outstanding Playwriting.

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07/02/18

NEWS RELEASE ✰ BLANK THEATRE FOUNDING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR DANIEL HENNING NAMED 2018 PRIDE HONOREE

THE BLANK THEATRE’S
FOUNDING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
DANIEL HENNING
NAMED A 2018 PRIDE HONOREE BY
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE LGBT CAUCUS

Daniel Henning, the Founding Artistic Director of Hollywood’s Blank Theatre, has been named a 2018 Pride honoree by the California Legislative LGBT Caucus. A special floor ceremony was held on June 18 during the California State Assembly floor session in Sacramento. Honorees were presented with resolutions in commemoration of their accomplishments and contributions to the LGBT community.

California’s Legislative LGBT Caucus was formed in 2002 to create a forum for the state’s legislators to discuss issues that affect LGBT Californians and to further the goal of equality and justice for all Californians. Formation of the LGBT Caucus made California the first state in the country to recognize an official caucus of openly LGBT state legislators. Previous honorees represent motivated individuals in arts, law, business, and public service. They include Executive Director of Equality California Rick Zbur, journalist Helen Zia, Academy Award-winner Dustin Lance Black, and Bishop Rev. Dr. Yvette Flunder.

Daniel Henning is a native Californian, born in Oakland and raised in the East Bay. He has been an activist since middle school. His work for LGBTQ Equality includes creating the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Black Cat Protests (the first major LGBTQ demonstration in the US) and directing and hosting the 2017 LA City Council LGBTQ Pride Ceremony. Henning is a director, producer, actor, and writer. His work has been seen on MTV, HBO, CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, and on stages throughout Southern California. He is the Founding Artistic Director of The Blank Theatre in Hollywood, winning over 200 awards for his productions from the LA Drama Critic Circle, LA Weekly, Ovations, NAACP, and more. Henning has been inspirational to thousands of young artists through his work in The Blank’s Young Playwrights Festival (the only professional nationwide competition for playwrights aged nine to 19, which he founded 26 years ago) including Tony Award-winning playwright Stephen Karam, who was a three-time winner in the Festival. Henning has written, developed, and produced many plays about the LGBTQ experience and raised thousands of dollars for Equality causes.

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06/25/18

NEWS RELEASE ▪︎ THE BLANK THEATRE SOIRÉE 2018 ▪︎ MEET TONY AWARD-WINNING PLAYWRIGHT STEPHEN KARAM ▪︎ SATURDAY 6/23

HOLLYWOOD’S BLANK THEATRE
CELEBRATES 26 YEARS OF THE
YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL
THE BLANK SOIRÉE 2018

AN INTIMATE AFTERNOON WITH
TONY AWARD-WINNING PLAYWRIGHT OF THE HUMANS
STEPHEN KARAM

SATURDAY, JUNE 23

Hollywood’s Blank Theatre has announced The Blank Soirée 2018, an intimate afternoon with Stephen Karam, the Tony Award-winning playwright of The Humans. The event will take place from 2–5pm at Denenberg Fine Arts, a private art gallery in West Hollywood.

Join Tony Award-winner Stephen Karam (a three-time YPF winner) for an exclusive party celebrating 26 years of The Blank Theatre’s Young Playwrights Festival. Chat with Stephen and other special guests over cocktails at an exclusive West Hollywood private art gallery. Hear Stephen discuss his career and how YPF encouraged and inspired him. The Blank Soirée is a benefit to support The Blank Theatre’s Young Playwrights Festival and the Future of Theatre.

The Blank Theatre’s Young Playwrights Festival, now in its 26th year, is the only professional nationwide competition for playwrights 9 to 19. Winning playwrights are given mentors, and 12 winning plays are given productions with professional actors and directors in a month-long Festival. This year’s YPF is now running through June 24 at the Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood.

Tickets are $250 for general admission and $500 for VIP tickets, which include an exclusive private reception at 2pm with Stephen Karam and special guests, a full bar, and two premium reserved seats for the Young Playwrights Festival. Ticket info and more information are available online at www.TheBlank.com/Soirée or by calling (323) 871-8018. The Blank Theatre is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization.

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06/11/18