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Announcing: February 11 Performance of “God’s Ear” Benefits “Peace Over Violence” Social Service Agency

NON-PROFIT ASSISTS NON-PROFIT
SATURDAY 2/11 PERFORMANCE OF THE ECHO THEATER COMPANY’S PRODUCTION OF “GOD’S EAR”
WILL BENEFIT PEACE OVER VIOLENCE, A SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY
DEDICATED TO THE ELIMINATION OF SEXUAL AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
FRANCES FISHER IS HONORARY EVENT CHAIR

God's Ear posterThe Saturday, February 11 performance of God’s Ear, a play by Jenny Schwartz, directed by Rory Kozoll, is set to benefit Peace Over Violence, a social service agency dedicated to the elimination of sexual and domestic violence; dedicated to a world without violence. Theatre, film, and television actress Frances Fisher serves as honorary chairperson for the evening.

Peace Over Violence provides crisis intervention services and violence prevention education, along with one-on-one counseling and guidance to heal survivors of violence. Teens are taught about healthy relationships; girls are trained in self-defense, boys are taught conflict resolution, and all are given advice on public policy. The organization believes, above all, that violence is preventable. For more information, visit www.peaceoverviolence.org, or call (213) 955-9090.

In God’s Ear, a couple suffers a tragic accident, and their grief propels them into a fantastical world where the Tooth Fairy sings, their flight attendant is a cross dresser, and GI Joe offers family counseling. It’s a lyrically absurd journey of love, loss, and laughter.

Of the Echo Theater Company’s production, which opened on January 14, Back Stage said, “Director Rory Kozoll skillfully moves the action along and brings out every bit of dark (and light) humor.” Said the LA Weekly, “With a nod to the absurdist canon, and perhaps Lewis Carroll, Jenny Schwartz’s use of clichés, idiom and chatter is … brilliant and funny.” God’s Ear is produced for the Echo Theater Company by Lauren Bass and Chris Fields.

Tickets for the Peace Over Violence benefit performance on Saturday, February 11 at 8pm are $40, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased (as well as regular priced tickets for remaining performances of God’s Ear through February 19), by visiting www.echotheatercompany.com or by calling (877) 369-9112. The regular running schedule is Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm and Sundays at 7:00pm, and tickets are $25. The Zephyr Theatre is located at 7456 Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, 90046. Street parking is available.

The multiple award-winning Echo Theater Company has presented 47 Los Angeles premiere productions, 37 world premieres, and 22 commissions. These productions introduced Los Angeles to the work of David Lindsay-Abaire, Sarah Ruhl, Adam Rapp, Adam Bock, Cusi Cram, Gary Sunshine, Ron Fitzgerald, Tanya Barfield, and Mike Batistick, among many others. Most recently, the Echo was nominated for three Ovation Awards including Best Ensemble and Best Play for its West Coast premiere of Mark Schultz’s Everything Will Be Different. The company also received seven LA Weekly Award nominations for its world premiere production of Matt Benjamin and Logan Brown’s Wirehead. The West Coast premiere of Jessica Goldberg’s Body Politic garnered Ovation nominations for Best Play and Best Ensemble. The Echo also engages in community outreach programs including a free public reading series, ActOut, an educational outreach program dedicated to helping at-risk youth, and PlayTime, an outreach program in which Echo members perform fairy tales, nursery rhymes and theater pieces for sick children of all ages in a number of facilities and hospitals in Los Angeles.

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01-27-12

Announcing: “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf”

THE LYRIC THEATRE ON LA BREA PRESENTS
FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE
WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF
BY NTOZAKE SHANGE
DIRECTED BY JC GAFFORD

OPENING SET FOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10
12 PERFORMANCES ONLY

For Colored Girls Lyric posterThe Lyric Theatre on N. La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles will kick off its 2012 season of plays with a revival of For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf, directed by Lyric Artistic Director JC Gafford. There will be two preview performances on Wednesday, February 8 and Thursday, February 9, and opening night is set for Friday, February 10 at 8:00. The limited run of 12 performances only will continue through March 17.

Written by Ntozake Shange, the Tony Award-nominated and Obie Award-winning play weaves lush movement and graceful verse into a truly stirring portrait of seven amazing black women trapped in their sex, color and consciousness. Each woman’s journey is unique, yet each seamlessly blends with the stories of the other six women to form one, united voice of pride and power. The play, which premiered on Broadway in 1976, was the inspiration for Tyler Perry’s recent film For Colored Girls.

The cast will feature (in alphabetical order) Darlene Bel Grayson, Michelle Campbell, Mystie Galloway, Monica Quinn, Derf Recklaw, Yvette Saunders, Samiyah Swann, and Nia Witts. The set design is by Nicole Dietel, the lighting design is by Krystle Smith, and sound design is by JC Gafford. The choreographer is Fernando Christopher, and the stage manager is Janette Jara. Dorrie Braun produces for the Lyric Theatre.

For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf will play two preview performances on Wednesday, February 8 and Thursday, February 9, at 8pm. Opening night is set for Friday, February 10 at 8:00, and the 12 performance only engagement will continue through March 17. The running schedule is Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00. For Colored Girls … tickets are on sale now ($20 for general admission), and may be purchased by visiting www.plays411.com/forcoloredgirls, www.Goldstar.com, www.LAStageAlliance.com, or by calling (323) 960-1055.

The Lyric Theatre is located at 520 N. La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles, 90036. Street parking is available. For more information on For Colored Girls … , the Lyric Theatre, and the 2012 season of plays, visit www.LyricTheatreLA.com.

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01-20-12

Announcing: 2012 Directors Lab West Applications Available Now

2012 DIRECTORS LAB WEST DATES SET, MAY 19-26
APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE NOW

Directors Lab WestDirectors Lab West Steering Committee has announced the dates for the 13th annual Directors Lab West. The 2012 Lab will take place May 19-26 in residence at Pasadena Playhouse. The Lab will continue its tradition of bringing together dedicated theatre directors, choreographers and master artists for a week of intense discussions and exploration of the art form.

Attendance is by application only, and there is no cost to participate in the Lab. Applications and further information may be found at: www.directorslabwest.com. Deadline for receipt of applications is Friday, March 30 at 5:00pm.

Directors Lab West, which was launched in 2000, seeks theatre directors and choreographers to participate in a week-long series of workshops, panels, roundtables, and symposia with some of the nation’s leading theatre artists. Directors Lab West, like its New York inspiration at Lincoln Center Theater, creates an intensive laboratory environment where theatre directors come together to inspire, educate, and challenge each other. Over the last 12 years, more than100 acclaimed artists have given their time to the Lab, including Gordon Davidson, Ming Cho Lee, Cirque Berzerk, George Furth, Randy Newman, Stephen Wadsworth, Charlayne Woodard, Kay Cole, Paris Barclay, and Vincent Paterson, among many others.

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01-18-12

Contact for Directors Lab West: Kappy Kilburn
323-356-4936
directorslabwest@sbcglobal.net
facebook/DirectorsLabWest
twitter: @directorslabw