NEWS RELEASE — “GOD’S MAN IN TEXAS” BY DAVID RAMBO SET FOR LIMITED ENGAGEMENT AT 2ND STAGE THEATRE — OPENS SATURDAY 8/15 at 8pm

GOD’S MAN IN TEXAS
WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY DAVID RAMBO

A GUEST PRODUCTION
AT THE BLANK’S 2nd STAGE THEATRE

FOUR WEEKS ONLY
AUGUST 13 — SEPTEMBER 5
OPENS SATURDAY 8/15 AT 8PM

A new production of the comic drama God’s Man In Texas by David Rambo has been announced as a guest production at The Blank Theatre’s 2nd Stage in Hollywood. Directed by Rambo, the engagement will run four weeks only with previews on Thursday 8/13, Friday 8/14, and opening set for Saturday, 8/15 at 8pm.

The cast will feature (in alphabetical order) Tom Costello, Ted Heyck, and Brian Letscher (currently seen as Secret Service Agent Tom Larsen on ABC-TV’s Scandal). Set design is by Chad Dellinger, lighting design is by Martha Carter, and sound design is by Tony Award-nominee Cricket Myers. The stage manager is Samantha Else.

A comic drama about the struggle for power in a Houston mega-church, God’s Man In Texas was hailed at its Humana Festival debut as “the pick of the litter” in 1999. Over the following two years, it became one of the 10 most produced plays in the country, including productions at The Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles and The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego.

Playwright/Director David Rambo is the author of the plays The Lady With All The Answers (Off-Broadway starring Judith Ivey, Lortel Award nomination), The Ice-Breaker, Babbitt, an all new book for Lerner and Loewe’s Paint Your Wagon, The Lifeguard: Ronald Reagan and His Story, and God’s Man In Texas. His work has been widely produced at regional theatres throughout the country, including Actors Theatre of Louisville, Geffen Playhouse, The Old Globe, Denver Center Theatre, Alliance Theatre, and The Pasadena Playhouse. He has adapted several classic screenplays for live performance, including All About Eve, Casablanca, Adam’s Rib, and Sunset Boulevard, which was produced at the Hollywood Bowl with John Mauceri conducting Franz Waxman’s Oscar-winning score. Rambo has written and produced hundreds of hours of prime time television, including Empire, Revolution, V, and seven seasons of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

There will be two preview performances of God’s Man In Texas on Thursday, August 13 at 8pm and Friday, August 14 at 8pm, and opening is set for Saturday, August 15 at 8pm. The regular running schedule will be Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm through September 5 only. Preview seats are $20 and seats for regular performances are $30. Tickets may be purchased online at godsmanintexas.bpt.me, or via phone by calling (800) 838-3006.

The Blank’s 2nd Stage Theatre is located at 6500 Santa Monica Boulevard (at Wilcox), in Hollwyood, 90038.

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08-03-15

NEWS RELEASE — THE BLANK THEATRE PRESENTS “THE BOOK OF LIZ” BENEFIT STAGED READING ON MONDAY 7/20 AT 8PM

THE BLANK THEATRE
ANNOUNCES A ONE NIGHT ONLY BENEFIT EVENT

A STAGED READING OF
THE BOOK OF LIZ
BY DAVID SEDARIS AND AMY SEDARIS
DIRECTED BY DARIN ANTHONY

PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT THE BLANK’S ANNUAL
YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL

ONE NIGHT ONLY
MONDAY, JULY 20 AT 8PM
AT THE LOS ANGELES LGBT CENTER’S
RENBERG THEATRE

Hollywood’s Blank Theatre has announced a one night only staged reading of The Book of Liz by David Sedaris and Amy Sedaris, directed by Darin Anthony. The benefit event, which will raise funds for The Blank’s Young Playwrights Festival (currently completing its 23rd year) is set for Monday, July 20 at 8pm at the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Renberg Theatre.

This staged reading of The Book of Liz will celebrate the 10th Anniversary of The Blank’s long-running hit and will be performed by members of the original Blank cast (in alphabetical order): Tisha Terrasini Banker (Chastity Bites), Brian Carpenter (Superhero Movie), Matt Crabtree (Failing Upwards), Warren Davis (Yesterday Was A Lie), Bonita Friedericy (Chuck), Tom Lenk (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Johanna McKay (Yesterday Was A Lie), David St. James (iCarly), Kirsten Vangsness (Criminal Minds), Deborah Van Valkenburgh (Too Close for Comfort), Jeff Witzke (Vampires Suck), Sam Zeller (Kinky Boots National Tour), and Tamara Zook (Sons of the Prophet).

In 2005, The Blank Theatre’s production of The Book of Liz, originally slated for a six-week engagement, became a year-long runaway hit. At the conclusion of its run, 22 different actors had played 15 different characters over the course of 192 performances. This benefit reading is produced for The Blank Theatre by Sarah Allyn Bauer, Stacy Reed Payton, and Jeff Witzke.

The Book of Liz follows the hilarious, sweaty journey of Sister Elizabeth Donderstock and her amazing cheese balls. She feels under-appreciated among her traditional Squeamish brethren and decides to leave the quaint community of Custerhaven to try her luck in the outside world. Along the way she meets a cast of crazy characters, including the Cockney-speaking Ukrainian immigrants who take her in and the wait staff of a pilgrim themed restaurant called Plymouth Crock. Is all of this any better than her old life? Can the Squeamish survive without her? Will the cheese balls ever taste good again? The answers to these and so many other questions are found in this quirky comedy by David Sedaris and Amy Sedaris.

Ticket prices for the 10th Anniversary staged reading of The Book of Liz on July 20 at 8pm range from $50—$125 and are on sale now. To purchase online go to www.TheBlank.com or call (323) 661-9827. The LALGBT Center’s Renberg Theatre is located at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N. McCadden Place (one block east of Highland, just north of Santa Monica Boulevard), in Hollywood. Free onsite parking is available.

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06-24-15

Cheers to 23! (LAArtsOnline.com)

^{23rd Annual Young Playwrights Festival at The Blank Theatre. Photo Courtesy of The Blank Theatre}

Cheers to 23!

By Ken Werther

Now celebrating its 23rd Anniversary, The Blank Theatre’s Young Playwrights Festival will present 12 plays by young playwrights aged 12—19 from seven different states at the Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood June 4—28. This is a truly remarkable event that throughout its history has produced 260 plays by young playwrights.

Noah Wyle, Artistic Producer at The Blank, says, “The Blank finds the freshest, most original voices in the American theatre, invites them to Los Angeles, and promotes their work during our month-long festival. These thought-provoking works, performed and directed by seasoned professionals, have entertained thousands of audience members over the years. While these authors are often as different as the states from which they come and the subjects with which they deal, they share something truly improbable. They’re teenagers.” Wyle continued, “They are the voices of today’s theatre — and of tomorrow’s as well.”

Many of the plays presented in the Festival have been nominated for multiple LA theatre awards and several alumni playwrights are populating the nation’s theatres and sound stages with their work. Many winners have gone on to successful writing careers and one has even been a Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. I cannot urge you strongly enough to check out this year’s YPF!

For all the details on The Blank Theatre’s Young Playwrights Festival, click here.