As of this post, there are JUST 8 TIX LEFT to Beginnings’ Wed show (closing night is sold out). So if you’ve yet to see the show, and don’t already have a seat reserved in your name, GET YOUR TIX NOW!
Posts tagged Beginnings
Great Show Tonight
GREAT crowd, GREAT energy, GREAT time :-) Just 5 more shows to go…don’t miss it! GET TICKETS
“He has a flat, little, modern dance ass. Never trust a man who has no ass. If women understood that, there’d be less heartache in the world…” ~BORIS in BOLSHOI BULLSHIT by Robert Gardner (ABOVE: Alma Grey as “Stella” and Tom Badal as “Boris”)
Beginnings Opens at Theatre Asylum Lab (Mar 14 thru April 12)
Thank you to all involved with creating such a FUN, FABULOUS opening weekend of the Los Angeles Playwrights Lab’s first production of original shorts - Beginnings. And thank you, lovely audience, for being there to experience it with us. We’re looking forward to 4 more weeks of the same!
WHAT: Beginnings, the Los Angeles Playwrights Lab’s first production of shorts
WHEN: Every Wed/Thurs at 8 pm through April 12, 2012
WHERE: Theatre Asylum Lab, 1078 Lillian Way (at Santa Monica Blvd), Hollywood, 90038
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“The Disconnect” by Meredith Simonds
The Disconnect by Meredith Simonds is one of five plays in Beginnings - the Los Angeles Playwrights Lab’s first production of original shorts.
In Simonds’ The Disconnect, a recently-widowed woman tries to rewrite the history of her 35-year marriage through the social media-saturated love lives of her three grown daughters. Directed by Lisa Pelikan, and starring Ann Bronston (above, center), Heather Long (above, right), Jennifer Pollono, and Joy Darash (above, left).
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WHEN: March 14-April 12, 2012 (Wed/Thurs at 8 p.m.)
WHERE: Theatre Asylum Lab, 1078 Lillian Way (at Santa Monica Blvd), Hollywood, 90038
ANN BRONSTON (Pam) is a member of Rogue Machine Theatre and PRT. At Rogue Machine she performed in Bingo with the Indians”, Yard Sale Signs“and in their Rant and Rave series. At the Odyssey Theatre she performed as Marie in Marie and Bruce, in Madwoman of Chaillot with Sheree North, God’s Country, Kokoro and Eating Raoul. at Crown City Theatre in Best Wishes and most recently in at the Hudson Theatre in Sarah’s War. She has guest starred on many TV shows and co-starred in the movie “Going Beserk” with John Candy and in the movie “Scream.” Her award winning short stories have appeared in numerous literary magazines. 
HEATHER LONG (Joni) was a founding member of the Apartment A Theater Company based in Venice, CA at the Electric Lodge and has performed in many of their productions including: The Thing in the Corner from An Evening in Defense of Delight, Best Worst, The Girls from An Evening…On the Brink, Three, A Safe Distance, Three from An Evening called…Bed and All Night Radio. She is also active in the L.A. theater community performing in productions with the Subtle Bliss Theater Company and Sacred Fools Theater Company just to name a few. Film credits: The Reception, Trapped, Island Prey, Love Crimes and Other Felonies and also starred in the short EPICAC, which was selected at 26 festivals and won 9 awards for Best Film. TV includes Brothers & Sisters,“24”, Haunted and the Web Series My Two Fans.
JENNIFER POLLONO (Meg) is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and a founding member of Rogue Machine Theatre in Los Angeles, CA. She originated roles in John Pollono’s BLISS, GRACE, and LOST AND FOUND. At Rogue Machine she has appeared in COMPLEAT FEMALE STAGE BEAUTY, Seasons One and Two and Three of SHORTS AND SWEETS and in Steven Sater’s (SPRING AWAKENING) World Premiere NEW YORK ANIMALS. When not juggling acting and raising a precocious seven year old, Jen also produces the late-night “Off the Clock” series for Rogue Machine and just enjoyed the success of producing her husband’s wildly successful and critically acclaimed SMALL ENGINE REPAIR (Ovation and Garland Award Winner, LADCC and LA Weekly nominated Best Production). Jen will next be seen in Mark Robert’s West Coast Premiere of WHERE THE GREAT ONES RUN opening in May at Rogue Machine. Thanks to Lisa, Anne, Heather & Joy…all amazing ladies! John & Sophie for EVERYTHING! Thanks to the Los Angeles Playwrights Lab for supporting new playwrights! SO important!!
JOY DARASH (Rachel), hailing from the east coast, has worked in theater, film, and television in both NYC and LA. She has performed in productions with Theatre-Studio Inc. and The Producer’s Club in NYC as well as The Open Fist Theater and The Blank Theater (Living Room Series) in LA. Film Credits include All About Steve, The Seven Greatest Bathrooms in LA, Flotsam, Everybody’s Jake, and It’s Hard. Television: Gilmore Girls, Criminal Minds. She was also one of the leads in the KoldCast TV webisode series Acting School Academy. Joy would like to thank Lisa, Meredith, Ann, Heather, and Jen for being so welcoming and supportive throughout the work process.
LISA PELIKAN (Director) received an Artistic Director’s Award (ADA) for her direction of Interact Theatre’s ‘night, MOTHER. Both her leading actors were nominated for the ADA Best Actor Award, and one of them received the award. Ms. Pelikan has worked professionally in the theatre as an actor and director for 30 years. She was last seen Off-Broadway in the hit screw-ball comedy, PANACHE, at the Players Theater. NYC world premieres include Arthur Miller’s THE AMERICAN CLOCK and Jim Leonard’s THE DIVINERS. She has received numerous awards for her acting work including an LA Drama Critics Circle Award for the West Coast premiere of Craig Lucas’s BLUE WINDOW and a Drama-Logue Award for creating the infamous Zelda Fitzgerald in the world premiere of the one-woman show, ONLY A BROKEN STRING OF PEARLS, now titled, ZELDA. Lisa made her feature film debut in Fred Zinnemann’s JULIA, sharing the title role with Vanessa Redgrave.
MEREDITH SIMONDS (Playwright) is a first-time playwright. She moved from Phoenix to L.A. two years ago and joined the Los Angeles Playwrights Lab last year. Meredith is also a screenwriter who has received recognition from the Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting.
“Baby Toes” by June Carryl
Baby Toes by June Carryl is one of five plays in Beginnings - the Los Angeles Playwrights Lab’s first production of original shorts.
In Carryl’s Baby Toes, Emmy is turning 40. Her ex just got married and they have unfinished business. Baby Toes is about growing up and moving on. Directed by Chris Raymond, starring Yasmina Sommers as Emmy and Matt Crabtree as Fred.
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WHEN: March 14-April 12, 2012 (Wed/Thurs at 8 p.m.)
WHERE: Theatre Asylum Lab, 1078 Lillian Way (at Santa Monica Blvd), Hollywood, 90038
YASMINA SOMMERS (Emmy) graduated from The “London Academy of Music & Dramatic Arts” - She is a proud member of SAG, AFTRA, AEA and British Equity! And a member of the”New American Theatre Company”! She is grateful and excited to be a part of the growing, creative community that is “LAPL” - She is especially grateful to June and Chris for trusting “Emmy” with her. She now lives in Los Angeles with her wonderful husband, and her two amazing “sons” “Grover” Woof & “Oliver” Meow ;)
MATT CRABTREE (Fred) recently wrapped the feature Jamesy Boy with Mary-Louise Parker and jumped right into the Playwrights’ Lab! He was last seen onstage as Crumpet, in two performances of the one-man show, The Santaland Diaries with The Blank Theatre at the Stella Adler. He appeared on stage in the gender bending Mommie Queerest as Joan Crawford’s personal assistance, Carol Ann, and 11 other characters, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Reprise!) and the World Premieres of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs as Bashful (Walt Disney Concert Hall), Who Lives? (Pico Playhouse), Frank Zappa’s Rock Opera Joe’s Garage (Open Fist), The Boarding House (Interact) and 173 performances of David and Amy Sedaris’ The Book of Liz. TV: Bones, N.C.I.S., Grey’s Anatomy, HawthoRNe and Greek. Film: The 41-Year-Old Virgin Who Knocked Up Sarah Marshall and Felt Superbad About It, Signal, Corpse Run. Currently, Matt is the Co-Creator, Executive Producer and one of the stars of the new scripted comedy series, Falling upwards coming this Fall.
CHRIS RAYMOND (Director) is a graduate of the American Film Institute, the National Shakespeare Conservatory and California Institute of the Arts. Following graduation, he founded the Orinoco Theater Company. Off-Broadway and regional theater productions include “Lost in Yonkers” and “Antony and Cleopatra.” Recent screen-writing credits include “The Yard Sale,” “The Joshua Tree,” and “Daughter of Heaven,” based on the life of China’s only female Emperor Wu Zetian. He has won the Alfred P. Sloan Screenwriting Award and AFI’s James K. Fadiman Award for Excellence in Screenwriting as well as recognition by Chesterfield, the Nicholl’s Fellowship, and the Sundance Feature Film Lab. He has recently optioned and is developing bestselling author D.M. (The White Hotel) Thomas’s lyrical novel about the JFK assassination titled Flying In To Love, for the screen.
JUNE CARRYL (Playwright) is originally from Denver and a member of the Actors Studio and the Directors Lab in Los Angeles. Her plays include SEDUCER (Summerfest 2009, Black Box Theater), THE RINGS OF SATURN (The Living Room Series, Blank Theatre), GOD’S WIFE (Zephyr Theatre). THE ART OF YES (reading, Playbrokers). June has received commissions from the Magic Theater and Visual Artists Theater in New York. Her screenplay HARARE, HARARE was a finalist in the 2008 Page Screenwriting Awards. A budding director and performer as well, June has worked with the Blank (Young Playwrights Festival, The Living Room Series), Absolute Theater (The INSIDIOUS IMPACT OF ANTON), City Garage (THE TROJAN WOMEN), Mark Taper’s Taper, Too (SLIDE/GLIDE THE SLIPPERY SLOPE), Odyssey (THREE-PENNY OPERA), Berkeley Repertory theatre (CIVIL SEX, MACBETH), A.C.T. (INSURRECTION: HOLDING HISTORY), and the Magic (PIECES OF THE QUILT).
“Summer House” by Katie Letien
Summer House by Katie Letien is one of five plays in Beginnings - the Los Angeles Playwrights Lab’s first production of original shorts.
In Letien’s Summer House, the truth will set us free or send us running. After learning about her husband’s affair, Jewels leaves him only to find herself in another place of familiar pain. Directed by Katie Letien, starring Tracey Silver (above, bottom center), Suzan Mikiel (above, left), Alicia Lara (above, right), and Tanya Fairfoot (above, top center).
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WHEN: March 14-April 12, 2012 (Wed/Thurs at 8 p.m.)
WHERE: Theatre Asylum Lab, 1078 Lillian Way (at Santa Monica Blvd), Hollywood, 90038
TRACEY SILVER (Jewels) TV: The Sopranos(recurring-season six). Film: THE INTERPRETER, THE RABBI’S DILEMMA (Winner-Vermont Film Festival). Stage: Has appeared in numerous plays Off Broadway and regionally. Highlights: Elektra (opposite Elizabeth Kemp @ The Actors Studio NYC & Raw Space). The Girl on the Via Flaminia (Circle in the Square Downtown), Someday (directed by Michael Garces @ Cornerstone Theater Co.) Directing: The Road (Directors Company), upcoming: Mr. Goldwyn (w/ Mark Rydell @ The Actors Studio). She is a lifetime member of The Actors Studio & Graduate of The Actors Studio MFA program @ The New School University in NYC.
SUZAN MIKIEL (Newly Wed) is an actress, writer, and iPhone photographer (as in exhibited in galleries) Film: The Dinner (2012 short Dir. Carlos Lopez Estrada), Cat Scratch Fever (2011), Upstate (Los Angeles Film Fest 2010), Children of Invention (Sundance 2009). TV: Law and Order, Strangers With Candy. Training: BFA Wayne State University (Irene Ryan Nominee), Actors Theater of Louisville Apprentice, NYC Off-Off Broadway, The Barrow Group, UCB. Suzan is new to LA and genuinely loves it here. One of her fave projects is SATURDAY SPECIAL, a ‘lil web series written & directed by superstar Katie Letien. Suzan & Katie have some other gems in the pipeline. Suzan loves indie film & comedy. She loves seeing shows and attending Q&A’s. She loves being in them even more. She’s a fixture at Tuesday’s @ 9, Naked Angels LA’s cold reading series. She’s also in the UCB training program for improv and sketch writing. When not performing, training, or snapping photos, Suzan can be seen on various streets flabbergasted by gorgeous fruit trees. She highly doubts the novelty will ever wear off.
TANYA FAIRFOOT (Glory Days) Theatre: All the Wild Horses; Fetish; Burn This; Skin of Our Teeth; Gift of the Magi; Savage Love; Mysteries; Streetcar Named Desire; Cuckoo’s Nest; Antigone; Fool for Love; The Crucible; The Early Girl; Chicago; The Wizard of Oz. Film: Dress Up; Pantages; The Magnificent Cooly-T; Miracle; Along Came Polly; Dark is the Day; Gangstaz Education: American Repertory Company, BA Theatre, Biola University.
ALICIA LARA (Innocent) appeared in the feature film “Irene in Time” and has been in many indie short films and web series. Born in San Francisco, she began her acting training at The Actors Center of San Francisco before moving to Los Angeles where she continued her training at the Beverly Hills Playhouse and with teachers Sal Romeo and Barbara Bain. She’s intrigued by the role of Innocent in “Summer House” and is enjoying bringing her to life onstage.
KATIE LETIEN (PLAYWRIGHT, DIRECTOR) a recent transplant from NYC, is very thankful for her partnership with L.A. Playwrights Lab. While in NYC Katie produced and director several of her own original plays as well movie shorts and webseries.
