FULL RELEASE (1 PAGE)

Four Tree Plays

Ray Burley Productions in Association with Schkapf Present
Four Tree Plays World Premiere at the Hollywood Fringe Festival 2014!

Logline: Philosophical, whimsical, metaphorical trees! Trees witness our lives. We love them. We ignore them. We need them.

Hollywood, CA – Ray Burley Productions (RBP) is proud to make its Los Angeles debut with the World Premiere of Four Tree Plays at the 2014 Hollywood Fringe Festival, in association with Schkapf (aka Artworks), playing June 5 – 29, 2014. Four Tree Plays is a one hour show that pays homage to the silent, but ever-present trees that surround and nourish our daily existence. Every tree has a story. This compilation tells stories that will transport audiences to the fantastical and guide them to questions on the nature of being. Learn what trees witness in four short plays. Seeking Still: Online dating is hard for everyone, but especially trees. Tree Counsel: A tree can be a sign from God or just a tree. Sophistree: A tree wants to die and the man who protects it must choose. Does it Make a Sound?: In the forest, choose your partner wisely.

Opening June 5th and playing through June 29th, several show times are available to accommodate the busy Los Angelino’s schedule: Thursdays (10pm), Fridays & Mondays (6:30pm) with matinees on Saturdays & Sundays (10:30am). Show dates are June 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28 and 29. Reservations are highly encouraged as seating is limited.

Ray Burley Productions (RBP) is spearheaded by Producers Brendan Weinhold and Stina Pederson who both state, “RBP is committed to the idea that art should be accessible to anybody.” This unique show stands apart from the rest of the Fringe scene with its communal attitude of “Pay-What-You-Can.” Suggested donations are on a sliding scale, depending on income (1-hr worth of wages). They believe finances should not be a hindrance to audiences. By making theatre accessible to all, RBP is expanding the sense of community in Los Angeles and empowering audiences to embrace environmental stewardship in a thoughtful, intimate event.

In addition to working on Four Tree Plays, Producer Brendan Weinhold volunteers at the Fountain Community Garden in Hollywood and states, “Trees witness our lives. We love them. We ignore them. We need them.” He adds, “They live long lives, witness to events that no living person witnessed. They’re a connection to the past and they preserve our future, but there are fewer of them each year. There’s some funny in our shorts, but there’s also that thread of philosophical musing that drives through each of them. What would happen if there were no more trees?” RBP understands the importance of theatre and the impact of sending a message through this medium. In a city where automation, high rises, fast cars and the nicknames “concrete jungle”
and “tinsel town” prevail, it is important to step back, listen and give thought to the natural environment that provides shelter, nourishment and life – cue in Trees.

Four Tree Plays is directed by Tim Lim, who brilliantly utilizes movement as the foundation for the four shorts. With a strong background in dance, Tim incorporates motion into each piece to bring a dynamic, engaging,
and fluid performance. The Cast includes Dawn Alden, Leilani Marie Smith, Whit Spurgeon, and Brendan Weinhold. The Playwrights are Jennie Fahn (Does It Make A Sound), Nicolas Hoover (Seeking Still), Stina Pederson (Tree Counsel), Spencer Seibert and Brendan Weinhold (Sophistree).

*Production Note: Ages 13+ (some sexual themes, nature violence, and profanity.)
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About Ray Burley Productions
Ray Burley Productions (RBP) made their first theatre debut as a company in 2006. The company grew out of a need for more ensemble theatre in Seattle with standards of ethics and quality that remain a part of their mission. Now in Los Angeles, they are responding to that same need and standard. The philosophy of RBP is to provide accessibility to quality theatre for anyone, regardless of income or status quo. Theatre can be used as a means to educate and empower future generations. RBP believes in community and is sure to make an impact in Los Angeles with a green footprint, beginning
with Four Tree Plays.

DATES AND TIMES:
Press Opening – Thursday, June 5, 2014 at 10:15PM
Performs June 5th – 29th: Thursdays (10:15PM); Fridays and Mondays (6:30PM)
Matinees: Saturdays and Sundays (10:30AM)
*Box Office opens one hour before curtain

LOCATION:
Schkapf (aka Artworks Theatre) – 6567 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90038
*Public transportation or bicycle use strongly suggested

TICKET PRICES & RESERVATIONS:
General Admission: Pay-What-You-Can (suggested donation: 1-hr worth of wages)
Online Reservations: http://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/1508 or http://hff14.org/1508
Call: 323-871-1912
*Reservations Suggested / General Admission Seating

INFORMATION:
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.andjuggling.com/fourtreeplays/about.html
Hollywood Fringe 2014: http://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/1508

PRESS & PUBLICITY: Brendan Weinhold – 213-984-5527 – [email protected]