Announcing: Virginia Madsen and Steven Weber Perform Pulitzer Prize Finalist Stephen Karam’s First Play (Written at Age 17) at The Blank Theatre’s YPF Benefit, Sunday 6/3

VIRGINIA MADSEN AND STEVEN WEBER
WILL PERFORM 2012 PULITZER PRIZE FINALIST
STEPHEN KARAM’S FIRST PLAY (WRITTEN AT AGE 17)
AT THE BLANK THEATRE’S BENEFIT EVENING
20 Years of Winners: Scenes, Songs and Speeches from 20 Years
of the Young Playwrights Festival
SUNDAY, JUNE 3 AT 6PM AT AVALON HOLLYWOOD

Virginia Madsen and Steven Weber have been set to perform A Work Of Art, Pulitzer Prize finalist Stephen Karam’s first play (which he wrote at age 17), at 20 Years of Winners: Scenes, Songs, and Speeches from 20 Years of the Young Playwrights Festival on Sunday, June 3 at 6pm. A Work of Art was produced in The Blank Theatre’s Young Playwrights Festival in 1997.

Karam, a three-time YPF winner, was a 2012 Pulitzer Prize finalist for his critically acclaimed play Sons of the Prophet. His other plays include Speech and Debate (presented on The Blank’s mainstage in 2008), Columbinus (with PJ Paparelli), Emma, and Dark Sisters. In a recent Los Angeles Times story on the history of the YPF, Karam, now 32, said of his experience, “When you see people taking your work seriously at that age, it makes a big impression. For the first time, I thought of myself as a real writer.”

Additionally, Vanessa Williams has joined the cast of stars of stage, screen, and television scheduled to participate, which, along with Madsen and Weber, includes (in alphabetical order) Ed Asner, Barbara Bain, Nicholas Brendon, Brianna Brown, Dale Dickey, Daisy Eagan, Kat Foster, Thea Gill, Peri Gilpin, Lenny Jacobson, Michael E. Knight, Tom Lenk, Scott Lowell, Justina Machado, Allison Mack, Angel Parker, Jessy Schram, Rex Smith, DB Sweeney, Kirsten Vangsness, Gedde Watanabe, Virginia Williams, Noah Wyle, Bellamy Young, and Constance Zimmer.

The 20 Years of Winners event will take place at Avalon Hollywood, 1735 N. Vine Street, in Hollywood. Tickets for the benefit evening, which range in price from $50-$250, may be purchased online at www.TheBlank.com, or by calling (323) 661-9827.

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05-30-12

Announcing: The Blank Theatre Presents “20 Years of Winners,” A Benefit for The Young Playwrights Festival

THE BLANK THEATRE PRESENTS
20 YEARS OF WINNERS
SCENES, SONGS, AND SPEECHES FROM 20 YEARS
OF THE YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL
ONE NIGHT ONLY: SUNDAY, JUNE 3 AT 6PM

Benefiting The Blank Theatre, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit arts organization, honorary host Jennifer Garner will welcome (in alphabetical order) Ed Asner, Barbara Bain, Nicholas Brendon, Brianna Brown, Gordon Clapp, Dale Dickey, Daisy Eagan, Thea Gill, Peri Gilpin, Gale Harold, Lenny Jacobson, Michael E. Knight, Tom Lenk, Scott Lowell, Allison Mack, Virginia Madsen, Angel Parker, Rex Smith, Jennifer Stone, DB Sweeney, Kirsten Vangsness, Gedde Watanabe, Virginia Williams, and Noah Wyle as they perform scenes, songs, and speeches from 20 years of The Blank’s Young Playwrights Festival. Artists subject to change. This one night only event will take place on Sunday, June 3, 2012 at 6pm, at Avalon Hollywood.

About The Blank Theatre
Started in 1990 by Founding Artistic Director Daniel Henning, The Blank Theatre is Hollywood’s regional theatre, consistently offering some of the most high quality and entertaining productions in the area. In its 21-year history, The Blank has won hundreds of awards including every major award in Los Angeles for Outstanding Production, such as the LA Drama Critics Circle, Ovation, LA Weekly, NAACP, and Back Stage Garland awards. The Blank has been at the forefront of providing high quality productions with a risk-taking sensibility and entertaining experiences. The Blank Theatre is committed to developing excellence in artistic talent, and providing the opportunity for artists to take bold risks. For more information, please visit www.TheBlank.com.

BENEFIT PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

DATE/TIME:  Sunday, June 3, at 6pm

ADMISSION:  $50 – $125. VIP packages available for $250-$350 (includes post-performance reception with the cast).

TICKETS:        Online at www.TheBlank.com or by calling (323) 661-9827.

LOCATION:    Avalon Hollywood, 1735 Vine Street, Hollywood, 90028.

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05-08-12

Announcing: Mike Farrell, Catherine Hicks, & Megan Ward Added for “Windows on the World” Reading

MIKE FARRELL, CATHERINE HICKS AND MEGAN WARD
WILL JOIN THE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED
NOAH WYLE, VIRGINIA MADSEN, MARK VALLEY,
JUSTINA MACHADO, GALE HAROLD, PERRY OJEDA
AND NICHOLAS BRENDON

FOR READING OF WINDOWS ON THE WORLD
BY COLETTE KEEN
TO BENEFIT THE BLANK THEATRE’S
NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM,
‘THE LIVING ROOM SERIES’

ONE NIGHT ONLY
SEPTEMBER 12, 2011 AT THE STELLA ADLER THEATRE

Mike Farrell, Catherine Hicks, and Megan Ward have signed on for the reading of Windows On The World by Colette Keen, directed by Kirsten Sanderson, on Monday, September 12 at 8pm, at the Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood. They join the previously announced Noah Wyle, Virginia Madsen, Mark Valley, Justina Machado, Gale Harold, Perry Ojeda, and Nicholas Brendon.

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. In the fall of 2010, Farrell appeared at The Blank as James in Terre Haute. Catherine Hicks became known for her three-year stint on Ryan’s Hope. She has made many films, and for eleven years and 240 episodes, she played Annie Camden on 7th Heaven. In early 2010, she appeared in The Blank’s production of Christopher Durang’s Why Torture is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them. Megan Ward has countless television appearances to her credit, including General Hospital, CSI, Without A Trace, ER, and Boomtown, among others. Ward appeared in this year’s Young Playwright’s Festival at The Blank.

Said Daniel Henning, The Blank’s Founding Artistic Director, “The events of 9/11 had a profound impact on all of us. Many people chose to express their grief through art. We were moved by the depth of this play, and could think of no better way to pay tribute to the memory of those we lost, as well as honor those who survived.”

Added the author, “This verbatim play focuses on the previously unheard perspectives of individuals who were in New York on 9/11. Windows On The World was inspired by two of my friends: Alicia Titus, a flight attendant, who died on the second plane that flew into the towers, and Judy Kaplan, who brought perspective, humor and wisdom to the day’s events with her tales of walking home from downtown to Queens and how her life has changed since. Poets, lawyers, administrators, artists, and fire fighters have shared their experiences and describe how their lives have changed as a result of this day of de-enlightenment. Also, for the first time, you will get to hear the first call to 911 dispatch made by FDNY firefighter (Ret.) John Jermyn, who shares his story of surviving the collapse of the towers.”

Seating is limited, and tickets are now on sale. Admission is $50 for general seating, and $75 for reserved seating and a post-performance reception with the cast. Visit www.TheBlank.com, or call (323) 661-9827. The Stella Adler Theatre is located at 6773 Hollywood Boulevard (at Highland), in Hollywood.

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09-01-11