BEST SOLO SHOW WINNER THE WAKE RECEIVES AN ENCORE! EXTENSION

The Wake

For Immediate Release

Hollywood Fringe Sensation, Best Solo Show Winner “THE WAKE” Receives an ENCORE! Extension
The Hit Dark Comedy Takes Love Six Feet Under – And Scores Big with Critics and Audiences

Los Angeles (July 5, 2014) – What’s not to love about falling in love with a dead girl? Audiences and critics agree that “The Wake” is the must-see theatrical event of the summer – and now, the winner of Best Solo Show at the 2014 Hollywood Fringe Festival is also the winner of the ENCORE! Producers’ Award and has been extended for two additional performances, on July 11 and July 19.

Love and loss nearly always intertwine, but never as closely as when you discover your new flame is a dead body. Pete’s girlfriend dumped him one year ago. He still can’t figure out how to move on without her, until a chance encounter at a late-night party puts him on a collision course with love like he’s never known it before.

A candid dark comedy about learning which things (and people) to bury, “The Wake,” written and performed by Ben Moroski, was the surprise hit of the 2014 Hollywood Fringe Festival and is now the winner of five awards, five additional nominations and a continued wave of critical praise.

WINNER – Best Solo Show – Hollywood Fringe Festival 2014
WINNER – Pick of the Fringe – Combined Artform – Hollywood Fringe Festival 2014
WINNER – The ENCORE! Producers’ Award – Hollywood Fringe Festival 2014
WINNER – Best Production – Ezra Buzzington “Spirit of the Fringe” Award – Hollywood Fringe Festival 2014
WINNER – Most Orgasmic Production – Orgasmico Theatre Company Awards – Hollywood Fringe Festival 2014

“Raw and riveting…it’s rare to see such vulnerability portrayed by a male artist in so unguarded and accomplished a way. It’s a coup.” ~ L.A. Weekly

“An event…Moroski’s performance is electric…clever, funny, acidic.”
~ StageScene L.A.

“Drenched in insanity…searingly brilliant…intense, profane, hilarious and tragic…a tour-de-force.”
~ ArtsBeatLA

“The Wake” is the second solo show from acclaimed writer/performer Ben Moroski, the creator of the award-winning hit “This Vicious Minute,” which chronicles his battle with self-injury. “This Vicious Minute” will be revived for a one-night engagement at the Chance Theater in Anaheim on Tuesday, July 22 (more information at chancetheater.com). Moroski has written six full-length plays, including “The Wake,” “This Vicious Minute” and the commissioned hit, “The Breedless Kitsch,” among others. On stage, he was most recently seen in the Chance Theater production of Sarah Ruhl’s “Passion Play.”

“The Wake” is directed by Nick Massouh, a director, actor, and improviser. Nick is a founding company member of the award winning Blue House Theatre Company, where he directed multiple plays, including the West Coast premiere of “Need” and Sam Shepard’s “Angel City,” produced at a pop up warehouse theatre. Nick is also a founding company member with the critically acclaimed Impro Theatre. Impro Theatre performs full length plays completely improvised in various genres, where the improviser not only acts, but writes and directs in the moment. Their next run will be “Western Unscripted” in the style of John Ford at the Falcon Theatre this September. Nick is the Dean of The Impro Theatre Conservatory, L.A.’s first improv conservatory, teaching all facets of improvising narratives. Nick is overjoyed to be working with the talented Ben Moroski again. They collaborated on “This Vicious Minute” for its award-winning world premiere at the 2012 Hollywood Fringe Festival, as well as the subsequent 2013 runs in Los Angeles and Sacramento.

“The Wake” will present its ENCORE! performances at the Theatre Asylum Lab on Friday, July 11 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, July 19 at 9 p.m. The Theatre Asylum Lab is located at 1078 Lillian Way, Los Angeles, CA 90038. Tickets are $10 general admission, available for purchase online at theencoreawards.com/1637 or at the door (cash only). Advance purchase is highly recommended.

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