The Freeway Series 2009

...Keep The Ball Rolling!

Original one acts

exploring the intricate and

haunting dynamics of life and death.

Skipper by Robert Beiderman

directed Susan Eiden

Dead Angel by Dale Andersen

directed by Rebecca L. Doppelt

Cupidity by Thomas J. Misuraca

directed by Bennett Cohon

Table For One by Hindi Brooks

directed by Bennett Cohon

Up On The Roof by Mark Harvey Levine

directed by Louise Kroot-Haukka

Dear John by Herman Poppe

directed by Herman Poppe

Starring

Lou Briggs, Janna Brown, Diane Chernansky, Bryeon Earle,

RJ Farrington, John Graham, Maggie Grant, Christine Gwillia,

Dave Hanson, Zack Kraus, Jennifer Lane, Jared Martzell,

Marc McHone, Christopher Meehan, Mary Beth Pape, Alan Taaghol,

Felicia Tabrizi, Trey Teufel, Brian Turley, and LB Zimmerman

Write Act Repertory and Producing Artistic Director John Lant proudly announce their production of …Keep The Ball Rolling! as the Freeway Series 2009  continues.  This innovative production showcases the distinctive voices of Los Angeles writers and the diverse talent of Write Act Rep artists, creating a provocative and impassioned evening.  This celebration of new work will have a limited engagement at the Write Act Repertory Theatre from Friday June 26th to Saturday August 1st, 2009 (dark on the July Fourth weekend).

…Keep The Ball Rolling! journeys through the familiar settings of any big city and reveals a glimpse into the lives of the people all around us. Their stories can be found in apartments around you, hotel rooms, local discothèques, the cafes down the street, on rooftops above you, in an unknown locale… a second later, or a moment sooner.  Life, and sometimes death, continues.

What happens when man’s best friend comes back as a man in Robert Beiderman’s Skipper directed by Susan Eiden, pass by a very dead sordid affair Dale Andersen’s Dead Angel directed by Rebecca L. Doppelt, savor sweet flirtations in Thomas J. Misuraca’s Cupidity directed by Bennett Cohon, stop for a bittersweet lunch in Hindi Brooks’ Table For One directed by Bennett Cohon, take a moment to question the great heights of love in Mark Harvey Levine’s Up On The Roof directed by Louise Kroot-Haukka, and plummet headlong into darkness in a profound play written and directed by Herman Poppe called Dear John.

With each vignette, this production explores what happens when people are willing to cross barriers, when artists choose to create bridges, and the freeways of Los Angeles lead us to each other here at Write Act Rep.

“Each year, hundreds of playwrights write thousands of plays. Some are never read by anyone other than the playwright,” said Bennett Cohon, Play Coordinator of  The Freeway Series. “Many plays are given a table reading, and some are lucky enough to have a staged reading with 2 or 3 rehearsals and the actors still on book. A few plays are ‘workshopped,’ where the play is rehearsed for about a week, with minimal lighting, costumes and sound effects.  For the most part these plays never receive a full production.”

Cohon continued, “Write Act Repertory has given me the opportunity to enable playwrights to see their works as complete productions. We have contacted local playwrights, requesting them to submit their plays for consideration to be produced at Write Act Rep. New playwrights can see the fruits of their talent, and sharpen their playwriting skills. Other times, as in this collection, we present plays by some of the most skilled local playwrights. We select works that we hope will touch the audience, engage them, and offer critical feedback to the playwright.”

To have an opportunity to produce something of this magnitude is extremely exciting,” states Producing Artistic Director John Lant. “My desire is Write Act Rep can offer a place of safety for the playwrights indigenous to the Los Angeles Community, affording them an atmosphere to challenge themselves. The goal of this long term project is to hear the theatrical voices of the Los Angeles playwrights living in the motion picture capital. This has always been one of the things that make Los Angeles attractive, the diversified culture and diversified artistry. We hope to bring these two things together on stage. I am very proud of this series and look forward to the collaboration between all of the writers, directors, actors, designers, patrons and the Write Act Rep staff that make a special project like this happen.”

The Freeway Series launches in the beautifully rebuilt Write Act Repertory Theatre on the St. Stephen's Episcopal Church campus, located at 6128 Yucca Avenue in Hollywood, two blocks east of the famous Capitol Records building near Gower and Franklin off the 101 Freeway.  Free ample parking is located one block away in the lower church parking lot at 6125 Carlos Street.  The theatre, which features an outdoor patio reception area, is both air-conditioned and heated.  Seating is limited. Refreshments preceding and following the show.

Calendar Listing

Theatre Areas: Hollywood, Los Angeles, Los Feliz, Eagle Rock, Glendale, Burbank, West Hollywood and the Valley

DATES AND TIMES:

Friday June 26th – Saturday August 1st, 2009.  (dark July 4th weekend)

Press Opening Saturday June 27th, 2009

8:00 PM – Thursdays through Saturdays

Box Office opens at 7:30 PM

Cocktail Reception nightly at 7:35 PM

(All Performances will feature a “Meet and Greet the Artists” Reception preceding and following.)

LOCATION:

Write Act Repertory Theatre

6128 Yucca Avenue – Hollywood

(Off Vine Street – two blocks east of the Historic Landmark Capitol Records Building)

Free Parking on the south side of St. Stephen's Church on 6125 Carlos Street

TICKET PRICES:

General Admission:  $20

Discounted Rate:  $15 (Seniors / Students / Groups)

Refreshments included (refreshments may be taken into the air-conditioned theatre).

INFORMATION & RESERVATIONS:

Call:  (323) 469 – 3113

Reservations Suggested

General Admission Seating

Visit:  www.writeactrep.org

Write Act Repertory Press & Publicity:  Rebecca Lorenne Doppelt

(818) 276 – 5332

victory409@gmail.com

Producer – Rebecca L. Doppelt & John Lant

Play Coordinator – Bennett Cohon

Lighting – Ken Cosby

Set Construction – DJ Higgenbottom

Stage Manager/Props – Jonathan Harrison

Graphics/Programs Design – Ken Cosby & Joan Silsby

Wardrobe Supervisor – Noelle Forestal

“Freeway Series” Connects Emotions

The Tolucan Times

By Mary Mallory

E.M. Forster wrote “Only Connect” as the epigraph to his novel “Howard’s End.” Write Act Repertory’s “2009 Freeway Series …Keep the Ball Rolling” examines the funny, sad and heartbreaking ways people come together, or fail to connect, in relationships.

A series of six one-acts that demonstrates life in all its complexities, “…Keep the Ball Rolling” features fine acting and writing while revealing the mess of humanity.

Robert Beiderman’s “Skipper” and Hindi Brooks “Table for One” deal poignantly but humorously with accepting love on love’s terms. “Skipper” contains thoughtful performances from Dave Hanson (Billy) and Marc McHone (Skipper), and “Table for One” highlights John Graham’s wry, understated performance and LB Zimmerman’s hilarious take on the complaining, pushy Jewish mother.

The uneven first act leads to a strong and complex second act. “Up on the Roof” contains knockout performances from Felicia Tabrizi (Carrie) and Brian Turley (Jason) as confused, vulnerable lovers feeling they’ve found the one but are afraid of being hurt. Mark Harvey Levine’s writing is touching and authentic in how it captures love’s fragility, and director Louise Kroot-Haukka builds a rhythmic, energetic rollercoaster of emotion.

Herman Poppe’s fine “Dear John” shows what it means to wake up and seize opportunities, employing well-placed lighting and sound effects to create a nightmare effect. As John, Zach Krauss brings an endearing charm to the confused, searching character.

Write Act Rep’s “2009 Freeway Series …Keep the Ball Rolling” reveals the everyday frustrations, heartaches and triumphs of ordinary people searching for connection while going about their lives.