CRAFTSMAN OPENS JUNE 11TH AT THE MCCADDEN PLACE THEATRE!

Craftsman

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Paul Hoan Zeidler (310) 204-4883
Email:  [email protected]

Lightning Rod Theater PRESENTS
The World Premiere of
Tony Foster’s
CRAFTSMAN
STARRING
Etienne Eckert, Elizabeth Ellson, Amir Levi, John W. McLaughlin, Tara Norris, and John Wuchte

as part of
THE 2016 HOLLYWOOD FRINGE FESTIVAL
at
The McCADDEN PLACE THEATER
June 4th – 25th
Tickets: $10. For tickets visit:
http://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/3332?tab=tickets

(Los Angeles) — Lightning Rod Theater is proud to present the world premiere of Tony Foster’s CRAFTSMAN, a time bending dramedy that blends romance and intrigue with magical realism. In CRAFTSMAN, home is where the past and present collide.

CRAFTSMAN is produced by Lightning Rod Theater’s Artistic Director Paul Hoan Zeidler, directed by Shaina Rosenthal, and stars Etienne Eckert, Elizabeth Ellson, Amir Levi, John W. McLaughlin, Tara Norris, and John Wuchte.

About CRAFTSMAN

A young gay couple in the year 2010 launches into the wild fray of becoming first-time homebuyers, but the well-worn Craftsman home they are viewing is not all that needs mending. Because of a long kept secret, the relationship between Ryan and Mark may be on the brink of collapse. Worse still, Ryan comes to believe the house is haunted by a ghost of a past resident. Meanwhile, a married couple in the year 1910, Rebecca and her husband, Charles, are not quite as happy as they appear to be. And Rebecca has begun to sense an other-worldly spirit inhabiting her house.

When Ryan and Rebecca finally make contact the hundred year difference between them blurs into one. The two gain newfound insights into their lives which allows each one to seek the truths of the other. But by crossing this uncertain threshold, do Ryan and Rebecca run the risk of never returning to the time they know?

About Lightning Rod Theater

Lightning Rod Theater was founded in the belief that a new play needs to do at least one of the following: Tell a story no one has ever heard. Show the audience a scene they have never experienced. Dramatize characters or relationships they aren’t overly familiar with. Or explore conflicts and themes the audience has never or rarely considered. The company casts a wary eye on the conventional and always seeks to find “the new.”

CRAFTSMAN is the sixth production mounted by Lightning Rod. Their previous plays include: TIME’S SCREAM AND HURRY—which had two Los Angeles productions before a successful run at the 2009 New York International Fringe Festival—ACTS OF POSSESSION (2011 Hollywood Fringe), GLENNIE & MAPLE BREAK UP (2012 Hollywood Fringe) and WOOF-WOOF (2014 Hollywood Fringe).

Biographies

Tony Foster (Playwright) is a founding member of the Elephant Theatre in Los Angeles and has written several works for the company during its 20 year run including: UNDERWEAR FOR CHRISTMAS, ADVENTURES WITH SPARKY AND POO, GREYSTONE, and the critically acclaimed ASLEEP ON A BICYCLE (now available through Original Works Online).  Other works have been produced at the Ringwald Theatre; Universal Theatre; Howling Moon Cab Theatre; Makor/Steinhardt Center; New Jersey Rep; the Ashland New Plays Festival; and the Actors Theatre of Louisville. He is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild, Lightning Rod Theater, the Ensemble Studio Theatre’s Playwright Unit, and the Skylight Theatre Company’s PlayLab. Find out more about Tony at: www.tonyplaywright.com.

Shaina Rosenthal (Director) is excited to be making her Fringe debut with this production of Tony Foster’s CRAFTSMAN. Previous LA theatre directing credits include: SPEAK NOW (Yale Cabaret Hollywood), RED AND BLUE (Ensemble Studio Theatre-LA), DORK LOVE (Ensemble Studio Theatre-LA), along with numerous readings/workshops as part of EST/LA’s Winterfest Reading Series and their Ripe-EST Reads event. She has assistant directed productions for Bootleg Theater, Moving Arts, The Colony, Antaeus, EST/LA, and the Open Fist Theatre Company. As a producer of unscripted television, Shaina’s recent work has been seen on such networks as Esquire, MTV, HGTV, TLC, Showtime, NBC, and BRAVO. She is a proud alumnus of Syracuse University, where she served as the Artistic Director and founder of the Drama L’Orange Theater Company.

Paul Hoan Zeidler (Producer, Sound Design) Paul moved to Los Angeles to attend graduate school at the University of Southern California where he studied with Hubert Selby, Jr. (LAST EXIT TO BROOKLYN), John Rechy (CITY OF NIGHT), Paul Zindel (THE EFFECT OF GAMMA RAYS ON MAN-IN-THE-MOON MARIGOLDS), and Jerome Lawrence (INHERIT THE WIND) who taught him Eleventh Commandment: “Thou shalt not commit television on a theater stage.” It’s something he’s taken to heart ever since. Paul directed his play, TIME’S SCREAM AND HURRY, in two Los Angeles productions before taking it to the 2009 New York International Fringe Festival for a successful run at the Cherry Lane Theatre. TIME’S SCREAM is published by IndieTheaterNow.com. Another full-length, NUDENAKED, was honored in March, 2011 at the Stanley Drama Awards and was a 2009 Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference Semi-Finalist. L.A. stagings of his work include: ACTS OF POSSESSION, GLENNIE & MAPLE BREAK UP and WOOF-WOOF (nominated for “Spirit of the Fringe Award” at Hollywood Fringe 2014) with Lightning Rod Theater; “The Enchanter Disappears” with the Jerome Lawrence Quintet, and “Your Mind Breathes Water” with the Elephant Theater Company. He contributed to the group-written THE BOX at Sacred Fools Theatre, July 2015. THE MOON IS A STONE THAT WENT INSANE has had staged readings with the Skylight and Elephant Theatre companies. He’s currently working on two independent film scripts and an epic play about the Group Theatre. Paul is the founder and Artistic Director of Lightning Rod Theater.

Charles Pacello (Executive Producer) Born in Denver, CO, a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Charlie studied at the Stella Adler Academy of Acting in Los Angeles and attended the Midsummer in Oxford program, a summer-long Shakespeare intensive workshop at Oxford, England.  Los Angeles theatre credits: GLENNIE & MAPLE BREAK UP; ACTS OF POSSESSIO; WAITING FOR GODOT (Pozzo); TIME’S SCREAM AND HURRY (L.A. and New York Fringe); ONE FELL SWOOP; IN ARABIA, WE’D ALL BE KINGS; HAMLET; WHAT THE BUTLER SAW; BETRAYAL; THE BEAR.  Film credits: “Blind Man’s Curse;” “Prom Queen: The Homecoming;” "Separated;" “Child Invisible;” “Project America;” “Sam Has Seven Friends” (Emmy nominated); “Prom Queen” (Emmy nominated). Charlie is the vice-president and CFO of Lightning Rod Theater.

Cast

Etienne Eckert (Sheila) has appeared on stage in world premiere productions of LOVE SICK, TOOTH AND NAIL, ONE FELL SWOOP, and SEVEN REDNECK CHEERLEADERS. Other stage credits include BOBRAUSCHENBERGAMERICA at [Inside] the Ford, KIDNAPPED BY CRAIGSLIST, and HELLCAB, to name a few. Recent film/TV credits include the features “Granite Rapids Moon” and “America is Still The Place,” the shorts “Dream Lover,” “Save the Date,” “DNA Detector,” and “The Side Effects of Barry,” in which she co-wrote, produced, and starred. TV shows/pilots: “Discount Fitness,” “Devil’s Couriers” and “The First Family.”

Elizabeth Ellson (Amy) As a Midwestern transplant Elizabeth’s first work in Los Angeles was in the 2014 Hollywood Fringe Festival. Her role of Babette in the bromantic tragedy NOHOMO was also a world premiere.  NOHOMO won many HFF awards and continued on to have performances in the New York Fringe as well as locally at the Kirk Douglas and Atwater Village Theatre.  Other recent work includes touring China with the performance company Theatre Movement Bazaar.  Elizabeth played the role of Kay/Puzo in their Godfather inspired original work, BIG SHOT. Newly married Elizabeth gives thanks to her husband Adam, manager Aaron Kogan, life coach Lauren Flans, director Shaina Rosenthal, and the entire CRAFTSMAN team. 

Amir Levi (Ryan) LA theater credits include SOMETHING TRULY MONSTROUS (the blank), CLOWN BAR (Pasadena Playhouse Red, White & Bluezz), THE BEHAVIOR OF BROADUS (Sacred Fools & Burglars of Hamm), AMIR LEVI: HAPPINESS (Rockwell Table & Stage), THE MAGIC FINGER (MainStreet Theatre), AMIR LEVI: BOUND TO YOU (Rockwell Table & Stage), ABSOLUTELY FILTHY (Sacred Fools), THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH (MainStreet Theatre), ROBIN HOOD (South Coast Rep.), THE CHROME WARRIOR (Lyric­Hyperion), MALE MATRIARCH (Long Beach Playhouse), BALM IN GILEAD (Coeurage), FOUR CLOWNS (South Coast Rep, etc.), LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT (Urban Theatre Movement). New York: FOUR CLOWNS (La MaMa), MALE MATRIARCH (FringeNYC 2011), TE BUSCO (45Bleecker), AGE OF PIE (Atlantic Theater Conservatory), TURNING (Working Man’s Clothes), several performances as a dancer with companies Ann & Alexx Make Dances, Philippa Kaye Company, and Amir’s company, The Poisonous Ladies. Internet: “Unicorn Plan-It” (unicornplanit.com). Film: “Head­-Tie,” “Courting Chaos,” “Special Needs.”  TV: “2 Broke Girls.” theamirlevi.com.

John W. McLaughlin (Mark) Graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, New York and Academy Company Member. Off-Broadway: US Premiere of BAD LANGUAGE originating the role of ‘Alistair’ (Primary Stages); NY Theatre: NEVER IN MY LIFETIME in the role of ‘Tom’, ‘Steve’ in SAY GOODNIGHT, GRACIE, and ‘Medvedenko’ in Anton Chekov’s THE SEAGULL. Los Angeles Theatre: HOUSE OF THE RISING SON, in the lead u/s role of ‘Dr. Trent Varro’, written by Tom Jacobson and directed by Michael Michetti for Ensemble Studio Theatre West, GAY POWERED: THEN AND NOW in the role of ‘William’, ‘Game Show Host’ in SO HARD, and originated the role of ‘Damien/Dorothy’ in the US Premiere and tour of THE GOLDEN GAYS (nominated for ‘best featured performance’ in The Best of Southern California Theatre 2009, by Don Grigware, BroadwayWorld.com). Film: “Crazier Bitches” in the role of ‘Liam’ and the film’s producer (currently in development), “Crazy Bitches” in the role of ‘Gardner’, released in June 2014 by Gravitas Adventures, “Meth Head,” released in March 2013 by Random Media in the role of ‘Bobby Blue’ and the film’s producer, “We Have to Stop Now” in the role of ‘Guy’, released in 2009 by Wolfe Video: Other film credits include: “The End,” “Mom,” “The Touch,” “Gay Propaganda” and many other independent film credits. John is currently in development for his first documentary on issues facing the transgender community. Craftsman marks McLaughlin’s first adventure with Lightning Rod Theater and The Hollywood Fringe Festival.

Tara Norris (Rebecca) Born and raised in Alaska, Tara Norris studied acting and directing at University of Alaska in Anchorage and performed onstage at several theatre venues there, most notably with Kokopelli Theatre and Cyrano’s Theatre Company. Upon moving to Los Angeles, she studied/performed with A Noise Within and Patrick Pankhurst’s The Lab.  Tara has been a member of the Elephant Theatre Company since 2004, where she has performed onstage, assistant directed, produced and served as a member of its cabinet for many years.  Producing credits include: West Coast Premiere of Stephen Adly Guirgis’ THE LITTLE FLOWER OF EAST ORANGE (Ovation Recommended and part of the LAByrinth Theater Company/Elephant Theatre Company Partnership), World Premiere of Tim McNeil’s SUPERNOVA (Ovation Recommended and Critic’s Pick for LA Times, Backstage and LA Weekly; LADCC and 3 LA Weekly Award Nominees for Performance, Ensemble and Playwriting). Tara has also co-produced, directed and performed in The Lab’s productions of Sam Shepard’s ICARUS’ MOTHER, George F. Walker’s SUBURBAN MOTEL, and Harold Pinter’s CELEBRATION.  At the Elephant, Tara assistant-directed the West Coast Premiere of PARASITE DRAG by Mark Roberts (Mike & Molly; Two and a Half Men) (Ovation Recommended, Winner of LADCC Award, LA Weekly Award, Garland Award and 2 LA Weekly Award Nominees for Performance), and the World Premiere of IDEA MAN by Kevin King (LA Weekly Critic’s Pick and Ovation Award for Best Play).  Acting Credits include— Stage: “Bluff” (by Tony Foster) in LOVE BITES (Critic’s Pick Backstage); TOOTH & NAIL (by Gena Acosta); ASLEEP ON A BICYCLE (by Tony Foster, Critic’s Pick Backstage/LA Times/LA Weekly); ACTS OF POSSESSION (by Paul Hoan Zeidler); FOSTER & JACOBS (By Tony Foster & Louis Jacobs); SEVEN REDNECK CHEERLEADERS (by Louis Jacobs). TV/Film/Webisode: “Trigger Man” (w/ C. Thomas Howell); “The Producer” (w/ Billy Zane); “Kony-to-America;” “Web-Army.”

John Wuchte (Charles) has a long career of performing and directing theater in both NYC and Los Angeles.  He ran the successful RAKKA-THAMM!!! Theater Company for 10 years in NYC, noted for performing his original adaptations of Greek tragedies each summer outside in Washing Square Park. A long time member of Sacred Fools he has performed in many shows including the recent THERE IS A HAPPINESS THAT MORNING IS.  He was also a frequent performer with Theatre Movement Bazaar, including DUMBSHOW, CIRQUE PICNIQUE and STRANGE BELIEFS.  Some favorite roles include Betty/Gerry in CLOUD 9, Rosencrantz in ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD, Dorian in THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY, and Fick in BALM IN GILEAD. He recently voiced a character for the new all puppet horror film “Abruptio” starring Robert Englund. Cheers to a great Fringe!

Production at a Glance

Lightning Rod Theater presents
 
CRAFTSMAN
Written by Tony Foster
Directed by Shaina Rosenthal
Produced by Paul Hoan Zeidler

Starring: Etienne Eckert, Elizabeth Ellson, Amir Levi, John W. McLaughlin, Tara Norris and John Wuchte

TICKETS $10, online at:
http://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/3332?tab=tickets

Where:
McCadden Place Theater
1157 N. McCadden Place
Los Angeles, CA 90038

Dates & Times:
Saturday, June 4, 2016 2:30 PM  (Preview)
Saturday, June 11, 2016 9:00 PM (Opening Night)
Sunday, June 12, 2016 2:30 PM
Sunday, June 19, 2016 3:00 PM
Friday, June 24, 2016 7:30 PM
Saturday, June 25, 2016 11:00 PM

presented as part of the 2016 Hollywood Fringe Festival